At the new fee level, that equals $5.5 billion per year just for tech hires, excluding the $100 million already spent on registrations that never make it past the lottery phase, according to a newly released DesignRush study. It showed the new H-1B fee would be a “game-changer” for US tech hiring, reshaping Q3 plans this year, affecting broader talent strategies, and boosting global employment hubs.
“Larger companies might absorb these costs, but for smaller firms and startups, it could mean fewer opportunities to bring in the talent they need to grow,” Ferruggia said.
All US tech companies, from small startups to Fortune 500 giants, will need to reconsider their hiring strategies, including options like Employer of Record (EOR), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and hybrid hubs. (EOR firms, like DesignRush and Atlas, are third parties that employ workers on behalf of another company.)
