The United States currently holds a position of global leadership in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In large part, this status is due to the significant contribution of immigrants in these sectors. Acknowledging the importance of foreign talent, an article recently published on Immigration Impact outlines the need to bolster America’s workforce by expanding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program.
The DHS’s STEM Designated Degree Program allows international students who have earned a degree in designated STEM fields from American universities to extend their Optional Practical Training (OPT) by an additional 24 months. OPT is a program that allows student visa holders to work in their field of study for up to 12 months. The additional 24 months offered under the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program ensures that the US can retain critical STEM talent for a longer duration.
Presently, the program only includes traditional STEM fields in its list of eligible degrees. The published article suggests that it is time to reevaluate and expand this narrow view to include degrees outside the traditional STEM fields, such as Sociology and Economics. This can bring in a much needed diversified skill set and perspectives in the continuously evolving STEM industry.
The immigrant impact is indisputable. Census data reveals that foreign-born individuals make up 25% of the U.S. STEM workforce. Moreover, immigrants bring new skills, enrich the labor market, enhance innovation, and play a significant role in entrepreneurship. The expansion of the STEM Designated Degree Program to include non-traditional fields can significantly amplify these benefits.
The article underlines the fact that expanding the program could not only prove beneficial in addressing the predicted shortfall of STEM professionals in the near future but also in taking advantage of the increased global competition for STEM talents.
To conclude, the article suggests the expansion of the DHS’s STEM Designated Degree Program as one of the important steps that the US must consider to remain at the forefront of the global STEM sectors. By considering degrees outside the traditional STEM fields and properly defining STEM to match the demands of a rapidly evolving industry, the US can continue to attract and retain a diverse and skilled workforce.
Acknowledgment: The original article with more extensive details can be found at ‘Strengthening America’s Workforce of Immigrant STEM Workers by Expanding the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program’ (https://immigrationimpact.com/2024/07/26/strengthening-americas-workforce-of-immigrant-stem-workers-by-expanding-the-dhs-stem-designated-degree-program/).
