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Skills domestic workers available to meet the need. Manufacturing has long relied on immigrant workers, and this will not change anytime soon. Industry leaders must work with government leaders to streamline the employment-based visa process. These programs already exist and are widely used, but such collaboration can reduce bureaucratic delays and eliminate redundant documentation requirements. Such expediting of the process will make it faster and easier to attract workers from abroad, make it more costeffective for businesses as they will more quickly reap the benefits of those workers coming in, and make it more attractive for prospective employees who may be daunted by a long and tedious process.
Furthermore, just as new technologies are changing the way manufacturing is done, new visa categories must be introduced, tailored to meet the specific needs of modern manufacturing. Those proposed under the CHIPS Act to increase semiconductor production are a good example of where to start. By working with government leaders to raise awareness of the specific jobs and skills needed to build a modern manufacturing workforce, business leaders can help build a speedy and reliable pathway for the necessary skilled workers to come where the jobs are. Streamlining immigration processes would allow manufacturers to fill critical roles more efficiently while ensuring access to skilled foreign workers who can complement domestic talent.
Conclusion
The labor shortage in US manufacturing is a complex challenge- but it’ s also an opportunity for transformation. By investing in workforce development, rebranding careers in manufacturing, improving retention practices, and streamlining immigration processes, companies can secure a sustainable future for the industry. Manufacturing drives innovation and economic growth across the nation. Solving this crisis isn’ t just about filling jobs; it’ s about ensuring that American manufacturing remains a global leader in productivity and innovation for decades to come. For manufacturers navigating today’ s labor challenges, taking bold action on multiple fronts is no longer optional- it’ s essential. ■
John Dorer www. eb3. work
John Dorer is a Global Mobility Executive with a focus on Employer Sponsored Green Card solutions, and the CEO of EB-3 Staffing Solutions for Employers. Headquartered in New York City, eb3. work is the leading company in the US that provides effective solutions in addressing the country’ s chronic and growing unskilled and entry-level labor shortage by connecting employers with foreign nationals seeking to work legally in the United States. eb3. work leverages its proprietary business processes and technology to assist qualifying US companies and foreign national workers in navigating the complex US immigration system.
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