In Charlotte, foreign workers replace Americans in tech roles

[OhioChick]

Companies in Charlotte are stepping up their efforts to hire foreign workers – especially for information technology jobs – under a federal visa program that’s becoming a political flashpoint.

The H-1B visa lets companies bring foreign workers to the U.S. temporarily to fill jobs requiring highly skilled labor. Employers say it helps them fill jobs that draw too few qualified applicants. Critics say some companies abuse it, replacing Americans with foreign tech workers willing to work for less.

Sometimes American IT workers are laid off after spending their final days training their foreign-born replacements.

Demand for these visa workers is growing especially fast in Charlotte. Last year hundreds of employers filed initial applications for more than 16,500 H-1B workers in the Charlotte metro area, many in technology positions. That number alone is bigger than the entire workforce of some of Charlotte’s largest employers.

More: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article81676692.html

[tonyt53]

1. IT jobs have been being farmed out for several years. Blame their employers for this.

Stop doing business with their employers and urge your friends and families to do the same.

[kimbutgar]

2. They should tax the hell out of these companies who do this.

Tax credits only for companies who hire American workers. If you use h-1b you should pay a higher tax so the displaced Americans get more unemployment.

[area51]

3. ^ THIS. n/t