Foreign talent or job threat? 56% of US citizens fear losing jobs to H-1B holders, survey shows divide

The American workforce is sharply divided on the role of foreign talent, with 56% of US citizens saying H-1B visa holders are taking their jobs, a new survey by Blind has revealed.

The poll, conducted between August 25 and September 3 among 4,230 professionals, highlights deep splits between citizens and immigrants. While 70% of all respondents acknowledged H-1B workers help US companies grow, only 49% of citizens agreed, compared to 87% of foreign-born professionals.


The divide widens when it comes to hiring priorities. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of professionals said companies should hire the best talent regardless of citizenship, but 60% of US citizens want preference for citizens and green card holders. In contrast, just 11% of H-1B workers and 35% of permanent residents shared that view.

Perhaps most telling, one in three respondents overall said H-1B workers create “unfair competition.” Among citizens, that number jumped to more than half (56%), underscoring tensions in an economy already facing layoffs and political scrutiny.

The debate isn’t just abstract. JD Vance recently blasted Big Tech for hiring H-1B replacements while laying off Americans, and controversies like the Walmart layoff scandal have kept the issue in the spotlight.

On Blind, professionals echoed these divides. A Microsoft employee complained, “The H1B and other visa programs are out of control… we have enough SWE graduates in the US now.” Others pushed back. An Amazon professional argued, “Stopping H-1B renewals just moves cutting-edge development to another country. Tech follows talent.”