Dive Brief:
- While President Donald Trump has called on U.S. employers to hire more American workers, the H-2B visa program has brought things to a halt for companies that cannot afford to pay higher wages, Politico reports.
- Laurie Flanagan, co-chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, told Politico that many businesses lost out on profits this summer. In the hospitality business, enterprises like Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, Maine, rely on a large portion of seasonal workers from other regions.
- Even the addition of some 15,000 more visas to the allotted amount for the year wasn't enough to meet business' demands, Politico said. Trump's own properties employ H-2B visa holders, and the Mar-a-Lago resort plans recently asked for H-2B visas for 70 cooks, wait staff and housekeepers starting in October.
Dive Insight:
The messy situation surrounding visa workers hasn't exactly helped solve an already difficult time for businesses that are struggling to find talent. Rather than doubling down on hiring more American workers, its seems companies settling by doing more with less.
Of course, such shortages directly impact employers' ability to serve consumers and maintain affordable prices. Companies will need to think ahead for next year to come up with ways to get around this issue.
