Indian students and parents are growing increasingly anxious about their future prospects in the US, amidst reports of a depressed job market and scarce internship opportunities. The impending presidency of Donald Trump, known for his tough stance on immigration, has further compounded their concerns. Representatives from top US universities, however, claim that there is no dearth of job opportunities for Indian students.

Chell A Roberts, Dean of Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering at the University of San Diego, expressed optimism about job prospects for Indian students in the US during the Trump administration.

His comments came as a respite for Indian students and parents , amidst reports of a depressed job market and scarce internship opportunities.

He referenced Trump’s campaign promise to offer green cards to international students graduating with tech degrees from American universities. He further suggested that the Trump administration had been receptive to India, citing the appointment of several Indian-Americans to positions of power. He concluded that, Indian students would likely continue to find opportunities in the US.

Kathryn Graddy, Dean and a Professor in economics at the Brandeis International Business School, seconded Chell’s views. She acknowledged concerns about the administration’s focus on illegal immigration but believed that the need for qualified workers would outweigh potential negative implications for Indian students.

They are here, along with other representatives from several US universities, to take part in the second edition of GradRight’s flagship event, ShiftED 2024. Over 4,000 students, 8 financial partners, 24 leading foreign universities, and industry leaders are taking part in the two-day event.

Replying to a question on concerns about the reported poor job openings in the US, Claire Almand - Associate Director of Marketing of education financing firm MPower, said that there was a distinction between undergraduate and graduate students. While acknowledging the challenges faced by undergraduate students, she said that graduate students, particularly those pursuing advanced degrees, continued to find success in the US job market.

Stating that the US economy is performing well, Kathryn said that Indian students often excel in these areas, making them highly sought-after in the job market. “Indian students work hard. We have a 97 per cent placement rate for Indian students in the US, and 100 per cent of their graduates secure jobs,” she said. 

She does not anticipate this positive trend changing, emphasising the continued need for technically skilled professionals in areas like finance, business analytics, and AI. 

There are not enough US students pursuing advanced degrees in these fields, creating significant opportunities for international students. 

Chell pointed out that the job market for technical professionals is strong,” despite fluctuations in the tech sector. “The placement rate for engineering students is 97 per cent. Streams like cybersecurity are in high demand, noting that students with a good GPA are quickly hired. 

“Students who are highly skilled and attend reputable institutions have excellent chances of securing employment,” he said.

Published on December 6, 2024