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I don't really understand. "There would have been up to 11% more computer science jobs at wages up to 5% higher" How would the industry have created 11% more

I don't really understand. "There would have been up to 11% more computer science jobs at wages up to 5% higher" How would the industry have created 11% more jobs? Are foreigners so efficient that they can handle multiple job roles?

LukeOT 10y ago
Answers: Probably not, Depending on the culture. The USA pay an enormous amount per year compares with other countries around the globe, however, the cost of living can be much more nearer the big cities in the USA (and the rest of the world for that matter). Generally people would want a H1-B / L visa because the US has the "tech scene", which, with all of these cuts to visas going forward probably wont last long...tech hubs are appearing all over the world. Sorry I went off on a tangent, but to answer your question 11% more jobs with higher wages just isn't sustainable so you are correct to question the statement.
theonething 10y ago
Perhaps the author meant there would have been 11% more computer science jobs... available to U.S. programmers if not for H-1B workers occupying those jobs?
suchire 10y ago
From the abstract of the paper itself: "In the absence of immigration, wages for US computer scientists would have been 2.6% to 5.1% higher and employment in computer science for US workers would have been 6.1% to 10.8% higher in 2001". So focusing specifically on US workers, not immigrants.
- coralreef 10y ago
  So basically if there was no visa system employing X amount of foreigners, then X amount of US workers would have been employed. Seems obvious enough. Anyone know what the unemployment rate for computer science workers is? Is there 6.1% to 10.8% available and waiting?
  - rtpg 10y ago
    Comp Sci is the domain with the least unemployment out of any major sector of employment. Basically at full employment levels (not just the US, but worldwide). Or at least, that was the case a couple years back.

LukeOT 10y ago

Answers: Probably not, Depending on the culture. The USA pay an enormous amount per year compares with other countries around the globe, however, the cost of living can be much more nearer the big cities in the USA (and the rest of the world for that matter). Generally people would want a H1-B / L visa because the US has the "tech scene", which, with all of these cuts to visas going forward probably wont last long...tech hubs are appearing all over the world. Sorry I went off on a tangent, but to answer your question 11% more jobs with higher wages just isn't sustainable so you are correct to question the statement.

theonething 10y ago

Perhaps the author meant there would have been 11% more computer science jobs... available to U.S. programmers if not for H-1B workers occupying those jobs?

suchire 10y ago

From the abstract of the paper itself: "In the absence of immigration, wages for US computer scientists would have been 2.6% to 5.1% higher and employment in computer science for US workers would have been 6.1% to 10.8% higher in 2001". So focusing specifically on US workers, not immigrants.

coralreef 10y ago
So basically if there was no visa system employing X amount of foreigners, then X amount of US workers would have been employed. Seems obvious enough. Anyone know what the unemployment rate for computer science workers is? Is there 6.1% to 10.8% available and waiting?
- rtpg 10y ago
  Comp Sci is the domain with the least unemployment out of any major sector of employment. Basically at full employment levels (not just the US, but worldwide). Or at least, that was the case a couple years back.