Electronic Design 2006 Reader Profile Survey Results

Total number of respondents: 2597.

Section F-H: Views On Immigration

Questions in this section included:

• F1. Are you a U.S. citizen?
• G1. Do you have H-1B visa status?
• G2. In what country did you receive your education?
• G3. How long have you been working in the U.S.?
• G4. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status?
• G5. Are you continuing your education while here in the U.S.?
• G6. Which of the following best describes your plans for the future?
• G7. Generally speaking, was your coming to the U.S. a good career decision?
• G8. Why?
• H1. Does your company hire engineers with H-1B status?
• H2. Do you believe that H-1B visa holders are sometimes hired at your company ahead of other engineers?
• H3. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status?
• H4. Have you ever lost out on a job opportunity or felt that your job was threatened by someone with H-1B status?
• H5. Do you think the government should more tightly restrict the number of H-1B slots for engineering positions?
• H6. Given the opportunity, how would you change guest worker policies or legislation in the U.S.?

The responses broke down as follows:

F1. Are you a U.S. citizen?		Responses: 2048
Yes		75.8%	1552
No		24.2%	496
G1. Do you have H-1B visa status?		Responses: 429
Yes		10.3%	44
No		89.7%	385
G2. In what country did you receive your education?		Responses: 407
G3. How long have you been working in the U.S.?		Mean: 4.29	Responses: 179
10 years or more		15.6%	28
9 years		5.0%	9
8 years		5.6%	10
7 years		3.9%	7
6 years		8.9%	16
5 years		3.9%	7
4 years		3.4%	6
3 years		3.9%	7
2 years		7.3%	13
1 year or less		42.5%	76
G4. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status? (select all that apply)		Responses: 203
To save money		30.0%	61
Can't find engineers who are qualified for the open positions		35.0%	71
They are more qualified than other engineers applying for the job		26.6%	54
For cultural insights into designing products for overseas markets		11.3%	23
Other		27.1%	55
G5. Are you continuing your education while here in the U.S.?		Responses: 260
Yes		24.6%	64
No		75.4%	196
G6. Which of the following best describes your plans for the future?		Responses: 245
Return to my home country		29.4%	72
Become a U.S. citizen		32.7%	80
Other		38.0%	93
G7. Generally speaking, was your coming to the U.S. a good career decision?		Responses: 218
Yes		68.3%	149
No		31.7%	69
G8. Why?		Responses: 184
H1. Does your company hire engineers with H-1B status?		Responses: 1464
Yes		45.4%	665
No		54.6%	799
H2. Do you believe that H-1B visa holders are sometimes hired at your company ahead of other engineers?		Responses: 1381
Yes		18.8%	260
No		81.2%	1121
H3. What are the primary reasons why your company hires engineers with H-1B status? (select all that apply)		Responses: 866
To save money		38.2%	331
Can't find engineers who are qualified for the open positions		37.3%	323
They are more qualified than other engineers applying for the job		19.1%	165
For cultural insights into designing products for overseas markets		11.7%	101
Other		20.1%	174
H4. Have you ever lost out on a job opportunity or felt that your job was threatened by someone with H-1B status?		Responses: 1432
Felt threatened		6.0%	86
Lost a job		4.1%	59
Neither		89.9%	1287
H5. Do you think the government should more tightly restrict the number of H-1B slots for engineering positions?		Responses: 1418
Yes		56.8%	806
No		43.2%	612
H6. Given the opportunity, how would change guest worker policies or legislation in the U.S.?		Responses: 887

Total number of respondents: 2597.

A cross-tab analysis is also available online.

Section I: R&D Trends

Questions in this section included:

• I1. Does your organization receive government funding for research and development?
• I2. In what technology areas do you believe the government should be increasing its R&D investments?
• I3. In what other ways do you believe the government should be investing in R&D?
• I4. Does your organization participate in university R&D projects?

The responses broke down as follows:

I1. Does your organization receive government funding for research and development?		Responses: 1925
Yes		34.1%	657
No		65.9%	1268
I2. In what technology areas do you believe the government should be increasing its R&D investments? (select all that apply)		Responses: 1867
Alternative power		82.6%	1543
Homeland Security		36.9%	689
GIS/GPS location-aware computing		13.5%	252
Nanotechnology		46.8%	873
Telemedicine		22.3%	416
Broadband infrastructure		30.6%	571
Bio-computing		22.4%	419
Supercomputing		18.3%	342
Robotics		31.3%	585
Other		12.6%	235
I3. In what other ways do you believe the government should be investing in R&D?		Responses: 760
I4. Does your organization participate in university R&D projects?		Responses: 1901
Yes		44.0%	836
No		56.0%	1065