Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Bernie A. was an obstetrician/gynecologist in the Philippines with a successful practice in several hospitals in Manila. Since she and her family immigrated to California a couple of years ago, she has been working as a caregiver in Orange County.

Johnny C. was a licensed veterinarian in Quezon City until he moved to New York in 2006. Since then, he has earned a living by dog-walking and occasional cat-sitting.

These two Pinoys are among more than a million college-educated immigrant professionals who are working in lower-level jobs because their credentials aren't recognized here, a recent study revealed. According to the report by the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute, more than 1.3 million college-educated legal immigrants nationwide, 317,000 living in California, are unemployed or working in unskilled jobs. They represent what the report calls a massive "brain waste" of highly educated and skilled immigrant professionals who potentially could, with a little aid, help ease looming labor shortages in California and nationwide in healthcare, computer sciences and other skilled jobs.

The same study found that professionals from Latin America and Africa fare worse than those from Asia and Europe. The biggest barriers are lack of English fluency and non-recognition of foreign academic and professional criteria.

Immigrants said shortages of time and money prevent them from pursuing the needed US credentials, said the LA Times.

The senior vice president of the Migration Policy Institute, Michael Fix, said the need to help immigrant professionals gain the requisite credentials and experience is particularly acute now that the nation faces the impending retirement of 77 million baby boomers, considered the most skilled workforce in history.

California also faces shortages of health professionals who can speak the language and understand the cultures of the state's increasingly diverse population.

The report urged several new measures to help ease the way for immigrant professionals, including more language and workforce training, national coordination of credentialing criteria and three-year transitional visas to allow employers to "test the waters" with foreign workers, said the LA Times.

"I believe that Filipino doctors can compare with doctors anywhere in the world," said Bernie, who is saving money to review for the US medical exams and consequent residency. "If we can treat patients in the Philippines, we certainly know how to treat them in California too," she added.

(www.asianjournal.com)