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Title: The Effect of the H-1B Quota on the Employment and Selection of Foreign-Born Labor

Author(s): Anna Maria Mayda, Francesc Ortega, Giovanni Peri, Kevin Shih and Chad Sparber

Publication Date: February 2018

Keyword(s): H-1B, Natural Experiment and Skilled Workers

Programme Area(s): International Trade and Regional Economics and Labour Economics

Abstract: The H-1B program allows skilled foreign-born individuals to work in the United States. The annual quota on new H-1B issuances fell from 195,000 to 65,000 for employees of most firms in fiscal year 2004. This cap did not apply to new employees of colleges, universities, and non-profit research institutions. Existing H-1B holders seeking to renew their visa were also exempt from the quota. Using a triple difference approach, this paper demonstrates that cap restrictions significantly reduced the employment of new H-1B workers in for-profit firms relative to what would have occurred in an unconstrained environment. Employment of similar natives in for-profit firms did not change, consistent with a low degree of substitutability between H-1B and native workers. The restriction also redistributed H-1Bs toward computer-related occupations, Indian-born workers, and firms using the H-1B program intensively.

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Bibliographic Reference

Mayda, A, Ortega, F, Peri, G, Shih, K and Sparber, C. 2018. 'The Effect of the H-1B Quota on the Employment and Selection of Foreign-Born Labor'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12736