HMN 2025: How Sociologist examines the affect of ‘STEM immigration’ on inclusive workforce growth within the US

Dr. Byeongdon Oh, Assistant Professor of Sociology—Social Justice & Change and Founding Director of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Research Center at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, has printed a review exploring how immigration intersects with race and gender variety within the U.S. STEM workforce. The article, titled “STEM Immigration and U.S. STEM Workforce Development on the Intersections of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Immigration Status,” is published within the journal Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World.

In this study, Dr. Oh introduces the idea of STEM immigration, which refers back to the rising inflow of foreign-born people getting into the United States to pursue STEM levels or careers. Facilitated by insurance policies like Optional Practical Training (OPT), H-1B visas, and pathways to everlasting residency, STEM immigration has turn out to be a major driver of U.S. workforce growth.

His evaluation—based mostly on a nationally consultant dataset—reveals that immigrant women and men from non-White racial and ethnic backgrounds are as probably or extra probably than their U.S.-born white counterparts to carry STEM levels. However, disparities by race and gender are extra pronounced amongst immigrants, particularly among the many 1.twenty fifth era, referring to those that full their Ok–12 training overseas earlier than getting into increased training within the U.S.

The findings underscore the constraints of social interventions which have centered narrowly on U.S.-born people in efforts to foster a extra various and inclusive STEM workforce.

Looking forward, Dr. Oh plans to increase this analysis by analyzing nationally consultant statistical knowledge and conducting in-depth interviews with STEM staff at SUNY Poly and different establishments. The purpose is to realize a deeper understanding of the nuanced boundaries and experiences inside STEM immigration and its affect on U.S. STEM workforce growth.