Dive Brief:

• Hiring foreign workers will be harder under the new administration, recent news reports show. SHRM highlights the current travel bans, which affect workers from 7 middle-eastern countries. It's adding much uncertainty to an already fierce batter for talent, says Austin T. Fragomen Jr., chairman of the executive committee of law firm Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy.
• How will "America First" affect US companies who are already hurting for talent? A recent survey conducted by Envoy found that the need for foreign workers increased by 42% in the course of a year. 
• Travel bans may also cause some employers to stop sending Americans overseas for career reasons, fearing that they or family members may be banned from re-entry to the country. 

Dive Insight:

The current legislation to ban travel and reduce the effectiveness of foreign worker access to jobs in the US are very real problems for recruiters. Not only do many recruiters feel there is a shortage of skills, but there are also shortages of people who are ready and willing to perform jobs across many industries.

The only solution is for companies to operate within the immigration laws, and find ways to hire people who are either at least marginally qualified or trainable. Until the travel bans are lifted and immigration is restored to normal levels, recruiters will have to focus their attentions and efforts on hiring suitable candidates that are agile and capable of learning while on the job.