Thanks again to Northeastern's Center for Labor Market Studies and MassINC, we have a new report that offers strong evidence of the economic significance of recent immigration. Indeed, were it not for immigration, the New England labor market would have declined by 200,000 workers over the past decade instead of 32,000. Many leaders in New England's business community have expended considerable energy convincing Congress to expand the HI-B temporary work visa program. Characterized by controversy since its inception, it appears to have done little to alleviate the high tech labor supply problem in New England or elsewhere. Moreover, it is intentionally temporary, when we are seeking long-term solutions.
Foreign immigrants take various paths into New England's labor market.
This is a matter requiring further analysis by our Commission. Turning from issues related to migration patterns to those involving production of talent through our educational systems, it is clear that we have work to do at every academic level. In Massachusetts, of course, the reform of our K-12 system has been a front burner issue, politically and educationally, since at least 1993. As someone who has been involved around the edges of the education reform movement, and more directly in the recent discussion about standards for teacher education in the Commonwealth, I am acutely aware of the depth of the challenges we face in these arenas. I am also aware that important questions about the value of some of the tests we are currently using remain to be answered.