American companies feel that access to foreign workers are essential to the future of the business, although state that President Donald Trump is making it increasingly harder to hire them.
An Envoy survey reveals that seven out of ten employers place critical importance on foreign workers with in-demand skill sets, despite a tumultuous immigration environment.
Conducted by The Harris Poll, Envoy’s Immigration Trends Report reflects the insights of 401 human resources professionals and hiring managers across different industries and company sizes on inbound and outbound global immigration processes and challenges.
The employers cite the following as reasons why a global workforce is very or extremely important:
– Bringing valuable new perspectives – 78 per cent.
– Filling skills gaps – 77 per cent.
– Having knowledge of industries or business practices outside the US – 75 per cent.
However, 2017 saw numerous policy changes and proposed legislation regarding the status of foreign national workers. HR professionals must be attuned to proposed legislation, executive orders and enforcement updates around the world to adequately manage a foreign national workforce.
The survey found that 85 per cent of employers say the current US immigration system has impacted their hiring and retention strategies. This has led to 81 per cent of employers experiencing challenges securing work authorisation for their employees globally. This is up from 66 percent last year.
“The nuances of global work authorization remain in flux as policies rapidly change,” said Envoy CEO Richard Burke. “Our survey shows that, while demand for foreign workers in the workplace is higher than ever, navigating the challenging political climate remains a hindrance and a source of anxiety for employers and employees alike.
“In the same vein, relying on outdated methods and in-house procedures is no longer sufficient. Companies must modernise global work authorisation processes to remain in compliance.”
Article published 9th February 2018