Every time I hear of developer shortages the next sentence involves increasing the H-1B visa pool.
I’m now in upper management. I’m told I can hire as many Indian developers as I want (based in India) but must limit my US development team. Why? Cost of course. There is no real shortage, just an attempt to clamp down on real wages.
I'm also in the same position as a manager, but to me it makes perfect sense. Roughly speaking a staff+ engineer in India will be $60-100K/yr total comp including benefits (and I'm talking IIT talent, way above market wages) with skills equivalent to or better than one in the Bay Area at $500K+. Our best development right now happens out of our India office.
I mean you cannot deny that there is zero merit to the rule. A good developer in Bangalore is $35k a year. A good developer in the US will set you back no less than $120k + 40% for all the benefits and payroll taxes and other associated employment costs.
If by "clamp down on wages" you mean control expenses in a general sense, i guess you're correct, but you sure are making it sound sinister.
I’m now in upper management. I’m told I can hire as many Indian developers as I want (based in India) but must limit my US development team. Why? Cost of course. There is no real shortage, just an attempt to clamp down on real wages.