12 Days of Compliance: Immigration’s Impact on HR

Last Updated on February 23, 2023

In 2017, we spoke with more than 500 employers about their immigration management practices, expectations and trends. Their responses gave us insight into immigration’s impact on HR, including how immigration management is changing, how they are dealing with global travel compliance.

Immigration’s impact on HR

Today’s immigration trends and policies did impact the way HR departments handled various staffing and budgeting processes during 2017.

Roughly four out of five employers told us they believed the U.S. immigration system has had an impact on hiring and retention. Immigration’s impact on HR this year has been overwhelming, since so many corporate immigration and mobility programs rely on HR for management.

Immigration budget increases for HR

immigration's impact on HR budgets

Some of the major implications of immigration trends today include increases in HR budgets, since the current state of immigration affects both time and money. That’s why only 17 percent of employers reported no impact on their hiring and retention strategies. On the other hand, 30 percent have had to increase their HR budget to address the challenges immigration has presented in 2017.

Immigration policy changes

Some of the international changes have presented a problem for departments trying to manage employees crossing borders. And, changes in U.S. policy and enforcement throughout the year have given HR departments a run for their money.

Roughly a quarter of employers have had to increase the number of HR staff members to help deal with some of the difficulties and shifts in immigration, while almost 15 percent reported not being able to fulfill client projects. That’s a lot of money left on the table in 2017.

Immigration’s impact on HR and on HR budgets in 2017 has been profound.

Stay tuned for our 2018 immigration trends report next year to find out the latest shifts in immigration management. Read the full 2017 Immigration Trends report here.