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H-1B controversy erupts as Elon Musk says Americans can’t handle challenging physical jobs
Elon Musk claims America has a 'major shortage of people who can do challenging physical work'
A new debate has erupted after Elon Musk weighed in on Ford CEO Jim Farley’s admission that the company cannot fill 5,000 mechanic roles, each paying $120,000 a year.
Responding on X (formerly Twitter), Musk claimed the country has “a major shortage of people who can do challenging physical work,” linking the growing skills gap to broader workforce issues and fueling a new H-1B discussion.
The remark sparked immediate backlash. Critics have accused Musk of oversimplifying the problem, arguing that opportunity—not willingness—is the real barrier.
One user said her son, a trade-school graduate, had applied to “hundreds of jobs” without getting a single interview.
Others suggested that corporations rely on narratives about worker shortages to justify hiring more H-1B labour instead of improving recruitment pipelines and wages.
Some commenters said Musk’s framing echoes long-running disputes over whether foreign workers displace Americans or fill essential gaps.
The tension is rising as the H-1B program becomes a political flashpoint once again.
US President Donald Trump recently said the US “needs specific talent” from abroad, even as his proposed $100,000 fee on companies hiring foreign workers has left industries unsure of what policy direction will follow.