It's a two pronged problem: there's the fact that as a young software engineer you no longer just compete domestically, but globally, and then there's the age issue. Many older engineers get let go/get forced into early retirement because companies want cheaper labor, and a 20 year old Indian with a degree mill diploma is cheaper than a 50yo experienced engineer. If youre not cut out for management or you don't want to manage and just want to be technical you're kind of in trouble starting age 30 because aside from large companies the technical track ends pretty early.
I laugh when I hear the Bill Gayes of the world say they can't find enough workers; there's a fair few, actually, you just don't want to pay for them.
Degree mill is very important to understand as you say. These are not apples to apples cheaper versions of US workers. Many of their degrees are fake/dubious origin or require much less time to get. The quality of work they perform is generally very low energy and because they must have a job to remain it’s basically slave labor. They won’t quit and work for much less.
End the program permanently, let Americans get back to work.
Use some of the foreign aid we waste for tech training programs for Americans.
It's a two pronged problem: there's the fact that as a young software engineer you no longer just compete domestically, but globally, and then there's the age issue. Many older engineers get let go/get forced into early retirement because companies want cheaper labor, and a 20 year old Indian with a degree mill diploma is cheaper than a 50yo experienced engineer. If youre not cut out for management or you don't want to manage and just want to be technical you're kind of in trouble starting age 30 because aside from large companies the technical track ends pretty early.
I laugh when I hear the Bill Gayes of the world say they can't find enough workers; there's a fair few, actually, you just don't want to pay for them.
Degree mill is very important to understand as you say. These are not apples to apples cheaper versions of US workers. Many of their degrees are fake/dubious origin or require much less time to get. The quality of work they perform is generally very low energy and because they must have a job to remain it’s basically slave labor. They won’t quit and work for much less.
Right, and honestly, that basically becomes your job if you survive the slash and burn to promote/hire the H1Bs, in my experience.