MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Wisconsin business leaders support updating the U.S. guest worker program.
The same Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce survey which found support for tariffs on China also has respondents overwhelmingly supporting expanded guest worker visas. Ninety-six percent support increasing the current 85,000-person cap on H-1B visas, which allow foreign workers with specialized skills to work in the U.S.
There’s also strong support for creating new visa options for high-demand workers to address Wisconsin’s labor shortage.
WMC president/CEO Kurt Bauer said demographic trends show Wisconsin needs workers, and foreign workers must be part of the solution, or the state will lose jobs and the economic activity that goes with them.