As someone interested in immigration matters, I have followed with interest the recent announcement by the European Union to introduce the ‘blue card’. The blue card is a program that makes it easier for skilled foreign workers to get jobs in the 27 member states of the European Union. Holders of the card would be allowed to live, work and travel within the European Union
Inspired by the United States green card, the blue card takes its name from the European Union’s flag. The blue card intends to compete with the immigration programs that the United States, Canada and Australia already have in place for highly skilled workers.
Could it be that as we, in the United States, are embroiled as a society having a conversation about what our own immigration policy needs to be, we end up losing our competitive advantage in the talent war?
I think so. Today more than half of the engineering master’s and PhD degrees issued in the United States are issued to international students and according to a new survey The United State's status as the world's largest talent pool is under threat from the UK and China.
Robert Hoffman, Vice President for Government and Public Affairs at Oracle commented after the announcement of the blue card initiative: "Europe has sent a message. They are aggressively pursuing the professional talent they need to compete on the global stage.," --- I think it’s time for the United States to do the same by reforming our broken immigration system that is wreaking havoc on every industry that relies on the skills of foreign labor, from the agricultural worker to the rocket scientist.