The integration of inpatriates into rural communities

Many US firms are facing difficulty finding qualified US citizens to fill technical scientific positions and are turning to foreign nationals to meet their needs. In some cases, the employee company match is less than ideal. This study focuses on foreign-born employees working in a particular industrial sector in rural Georgia, USA. Some firms in this industry feel that the problems they are experiencing with these employees are due to cultural factors. The primary purpose of this exploratory study is to identify cultural and other issues affecting the integration of foreign-born individuals into firms in rural communities. This article stimulates thought concerning human resource issues in our increasingly interactive global environment.