September 19, 2006

National Data, By Edwin S. Rubenstein

Bad news for American students, workers - massive H-1b Increases rise from dead in "SKIL Bill"

Table 1:

What Bubble? H-1bs Rise While High-tech Employment Falls
	High-tech Employment		H-1b Visas
Year	Total	Change	Cap	No. Issued
1999	6,167,246	NA	115,000	115,000
2000	6,583,029	415,783	115,000	115,000
2001	6,529,770	-53,259	195,000	163,600
2002	5,917,746	-612,024	195,000	79,100
2003	5,584,713	-333,033	195,000	78,000
2004	5,539,975	-44,738	65,000	65,000
2005	5,601,086	61,111	65,000	65,000
Source: American Electronics Association, Cyberstates 2006, Appendix A.1 (High-tech employment); Statement of Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy, House Judiciary Committee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, March 30, 2006. (H-1b visas)

Table2:

Average High Tech Wages, 1999-2004 (in inflation adjusted 2004 dollars)
	Total High Tech	Total Software
1999	$74,222	$101,717
2000	$76,112	$90,112
2001	$70,769	$85,420
2002	$69,484	$82,129
2003	$70,797	$81,369
2004	$72,440	$80,637
% change, 1999-04	-2.4%	-20.7%
Source: American Electronics Association, Cyberstates 2006, Appendix A.2.

Edwin S. Rubenstein (email him) is President of ESR Research Economic Consultants in Indianapolis.

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