US loses billions on inefficient use of immigrants

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Millions of immigrants with a good education came to the United States in search of a better life, but many managed only to find low-skilled jobs, part-time work, or even join the ranks of the unemployed.

According to a report by the Institute for Migration Policy, from 2009 to 2013, about 1,5 a million immigrants with higher education got a low-skilled job in the US, writes CNN.

If these people got jobs in the US that require medium or high qualifications, they would earn $ 39,4 billion more per year than they earn at the moment. This would bring about $ 10,2 billions in additional taxes to the state and state budgets.

The immigration rate of highly qualified specialists in the United States has increased dramatically over the past few years. From 2011 to 2015, 48% of people coming to the USA had a higher education, before that, on average, 33%.

But the language barrier, visa problems or cultural differences have blocked for many of them the opportunity to get a job that matches their knowledge. In addition, academic degrees and work experience acquired in another country play virtually no role in hiring in the United States. Some cities and states have already begun developing programs and legislative changes that can improve this situation and help immigrants get jobs that are appropriate for their education.

IT specialist from Cameroon

Aniset Vano Kom from Cameroon flew to Michigan in 2015, after winning a green card.

The 31-year-old computer science specialist (bachelor's degree) wanted to develop in this direction, but he had problems with the English language, so the first interview was rather difficult.

The man decided for the first time to get a packer food for prisoners and receive a minimum salary. He worked there for 7 months, while he was looking for another job.

In 2016, his uncle introduced Coma to representatives of the public organization Upwardly Global, which helps high-skilled immigrants find work. There he was helped to improve the resume and prepare for interviews.

After several months of searching, he managed to get a job as a business analyst at Two Men and a Truck.

Chemistry teacher from Ethiopia

34-year-old Samuel Tesfay immigrated from Ethiopia to Greensboro, North Carolina, in 2013, having a master’s degree in analytical chemistry from Addis Ababa University. He planned to get a PhD in the USA.

Finding out that he could not find a job in his specialty, he decided to look for any position that was at least somehow related to teaching.

As a result, he had to work as a dishwasher at The American Hebrew Academy Jewish School.

There was no teacher vacancy in the local educational institutions, but he was recommended to try his hand at tutoring.

He began by teaching mathematics, received several recommendations and expanded his studies to physics and chemistry. After a year of tutoring, he got a job as a chemistry teacher at a local school. Samuel's wife and daughter also immigrated to the States in 2016.

Electrical Engineer from Egypt

57-year-old Mrvan Alquat moved to the USA in 2012 after winning a green card. With 9 years of experience as an electrical engineer and $ 10 thousands for the first time, he expected to get a good job in the USA.

But for the first 2 weeks he spent $ 5 thousand, traveled to New York and California in search of work, but he didn’t find anything.

After 4 months, with $800 in his pocket, the man faced a choice - pay rent for an apartment or buy a return ticket to Egypt.

He stayed at the office as an assistant waiter at Burger King, where he worked for almost a year.

Using the recommendations on the Upwardly Global website, he improved his resume, which had previously been written in the “Egyptian style” and wrote a cover letter, which he hadn’t sent before either.

The organization also prepared him for an interview. After that, he managed to get an electrical engineer in an international company Holcim.

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