US faces skilled-worker shortfall as visa restrictions tighten on tech firms

According to the State of America’s Skilled Trades report, the U.S. will require approximately 1.7 million additional skilled workers annually through 2035, yet the existing education and training system prepares far fewer candidates. The report highlights that a sizable portion of one outlet trades workforce is nearing retirement, intensifying the need for new talent. Concurrently, the Department of Labor has suspended eight technology and outsourcing firms—Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Microsoft, and Adobe—from submitting new Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) applications, a crucial step for many foreign workers pursuing green cards.

The administration cites concerns over wage suppression and misuse of foreign-worker programs, emphasizing a policy shift toward domestic hiring. This dual pressure raises questions about whether U.S. training initiatives can meet the projected demand without relying on foreign labor.