Datanomics: How Indians became globally vital to US STEM workforce

Foreign-born STEM workers now make up nearly a quarter of the US workforce, with Indians leading both in employment and student enrollment in STEM fields

The US Chamber of Commerce is reportedly planning to challenge the Donald Trump administration’s move to levy a $100,000 fee on the companies sponsoring H-1B applicants. The White House’s decision is likely to affect the prospects of thousands of Indian tech-professionals, who form the backbone of the US’ STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce. In 2024, over 70 per cent of H-1B visa holders were Indians. Foreign-born STEM workforce has thrived in the US over the years, helping its economy grow in the 21st century.

 

Nearly 1/4th of STEM workers in US are foreign-born 

The number of foreign-born STEM workers in the US more than doubled from 1.23 million in 2000 to 2.5 million in 2019. Consequently, the share of foreign-born STEM workers out of the total STEM workforce in the US rose from 16.4 per cent in 2000 to 23.1 per cent in 2019. 

 

 

 Most foreign-born STEM workers in US are Indians

 

Of the 2.5 million immigrant STEM workers in the US in 2019, 28.9 per cent were born in India – the highest share among all countries. China came a distant second with a share of just 10.9 per cent. 

 

 

3 of 4 Indians studying in US pursue STEM courses

 

In the academic year 2023-24, Indians formed the largest chunk of foreign students in the US. Out of these, 3 out of 4 Indian students in the US were pursuing STEM courses – the highest share among students of major countries studying in the US. Only 52 per cent of Chinese students had taken up STEM courses in the academic year 2023-24.