NSBA Releases New Survey on Immigration and Workforce

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Small Business Association (NSBA) today released its 2013 Workforce and Immigration Survey. Among the key findings: while only 17 percent employ immigrant workers, nearly half of respondents said they rely on highly-skilled workers with a STEM background, driving broad agreement that a new visa category ought to be created for highly-skilled workers.

Although a narrow majority of respondents responded they would support requiring all employers comply with some kind of E-Verify system—which was not defined in the survey—the overwhelming majority (76 percent) do not use the current system or have never even heard of it.

"When confronted with the current reality of the E-Verify system and the fact that many leading proposals would enforce penalties of up to $75,000 and 10 years in prison, we would expect a marked drop in this already low level of support for mandating the existing program or massive increases in penalties on all employers," stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken.

The survey also asked small-business owners about workforce preparedness and found that one-third say the quality and education of the current workforce is not meeting their needs. To address this shortfall, 92 percent say the offer some kind of additional training to employees, and 32 percent offer money toward employees' continuing education or certification programs.

When it comes to hiring procedures, 43 percent of small-business respondents report conducting a criminal background checks on prospective employees, and 80 percent report putting new employees to work within one week of being hired.

"As lawmakers debate immigration reform and other workforce proposals, NSBA is calling on them to give small business the tools to grow and create jobs and avoid unnecessary burdens that will have a stymieing effect on economic growth," said NSBA Chair David Ickert of Air Tractor, Inc. in Olney, Texas.

Click here to download the report.

Click here to view NSBA's recent letter to Congress on immigration reform.

Celebrating more than 75 years in operation, NSBA is a staunchly nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America's entrepreneurs. NSBA's 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S., and we are proud to be the nation's first small-business advocacy organization. Please visit www.nsba.biz or follow us at @NSBAAdvocate.

SOURCE National Small Business Association