Musk Responds to Layoff Criticism: Tesla’s H-1B Employees Make Up Just 2% of Workforce

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently responded to online criticism regarding the company's reduction of H-1B visa employees. A chart circulating online showed that Tesla employed 2,908 H-1B visa holders—a relatively low proportion among tech companies. In response, Musk emphasized that this move was not aimed at cutting costs, but rather at ensuring the recruitment of top-tier talent with specialized skills—talent that comes at a high hiring cost. He also revealed that Tesla has approximately 150,000 employees globally, with H-1B workers accounting for less than 2%, or just "a few percent."