87% US employers hiring foreign nationals: Survey

Given the tight labour market for foreign talent, companies based in the US have increased offering better immigration perks for sponsored employees. According to the findings of a survey titled ‘2023 Immigration Trends Report’, 87% of employers are currently recruiting and hiring foreign national employees in the US.

The findings of the report further indicate the demand for foreign talent is high in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to the corresponding period in 2022. The report highlights that 71% of companies report recruiting more foreign nationals in Q1 2023.

Despite the high demand to sponsor foreign talent in the US, immigration barriers are leading employers to relocate foreign national employees overseas and outsource jobs.

Factors like mass tech layoffs, STEM talent moving to new industries in 2023 and the Biden administration's actions on immigration policy are collectively shaping the global immigration landscape.  As a result, employers are reassessing and adapting their strategies to navigate these shifting conditions.

The report also reveals that 89% of companies hired one or more foreign national employees who were previously laid off by another company in the last six months.

More than 500 HR professionals, who specialise in corporate immigration and global mobility for companies across the US, participated in Envoy Global's 8th annual Immigration Trends Report.

The survey covered employer sentiments on the US immigration system, global immigration trends, corporate best practices, and more.

The survey also shows that foreign employees on visa sponsorship were negatively impacted by layoffs and hiring freezes in 2022, but they remain highly sought after by US employers. Companies have also started outsourcing jobs and relocating foreign employees overseas due to immigration barriers in the US.

Employers largely appreciate the Biden administration's direction on employment-based immigration but believe significant improvements are still needed. The findings of the Companies require more support, both internally and externally, to meet their immigration and global mobility needs effectively.