OPT extension to cost current STEM workers 176.5 billion in earnings

The Programmers Guild and the Immigration Reform Law Institute, have been denied a preliminary injunction against the Bush administration's 17 month extension of OPT training visas for foreign graduates studying STEM coursework.

Catch up on the details here:

Judge rejects student visa injunction sought by H-1B opponents
Patrick Thibodeau: Computerworld

Here's a problem:

"Hochberg's ruling focused less on the merits of the case and more on whether H-1B opponents had legal standing to bring it, noting that they could not show they had been directly hurt by the student visa extension."

One way to demonstrate direct harm to current STEM workers would be to show the effect of the added workers impacting the lifespan of the STEM career.

BLS STEM Employment 2005 = 5,228,040
Avg STEM Salary 2005 = $64,560.00

U.S. citizens and permanent residents:
Bachelors Degrees Science and engineering awarded

1995 = 363,463
1996 = 369,927
1997 = 373,745
1998 = 375,909
1999 = missing
2000 = 383,438
2001 = 384,492
2002 = 399,288
2003 = 421,730
2004 = 436,372

Total = 3,508,364
(389,818.22 avg per yr.)

STEM Career to replacement factor (domestic) = 13.41 years

Nonresident aliens:
Bachelors Science and engineering awarded

1995 = 14,685
1996 = 14,747
1997 = 14,737
1998 = 14,709
1999 = missing
2000 = 15184
2001 = 15,714
2002 = 16,323
2003 = 17,704
2004 = 18,606

Total 142,409
(15,823.22 avg per yr.)

STEM Career to replacement factor (domestic & foreign grads) = 12.89 years

Effect of OPT increases in current STEM worker population = 0.52 years (lost wage)

Dollar impact to each current STEM worker = $33,774.81

Total damages to current STEM workforce = $176,576,049,208.98

STEM Bachelor degree data
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf07308/tables/tab4.xls

STEM Employment data
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2007/spring/art04.pdf