Many public and private sector labor economists are forecasting labor shortages for business and industry which stretch through the year 2000. This article briefly examines the demographics which underlie these “shortage” predictions, and suggests that proactive business leaders might wisely focus planning efforts on legislative reform in areas of immigrant labor. Conclusions drawn suggest that the high quality human capital which immigrants can provide supplies one leverageable human resource pool during times of labor shortage. However, current immigration policies and practices can prove an impediment to the attraction and retention of high quality immigrant labor.
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