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"the real underlying issue is unemployment/underemployment" Why is a country that as high unemployment allowing high levels of immigration? Being mad about tha

"the real underlying issue is unemployment/underemployment" Why is a country that as high unemployment allowing high levels of immigration? Being mad about that seems highly rational to me

beat 10y ago
Why aren't citizens doing the jobs that immigrants do? That's a more rational question. Hiring immigrants isn't necessarily cheaper or easier. It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs otherwise.
- choko 10y ago
  "It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs otherwise." What if they did something crazy, like offer higher wages to attract employees?
  - beat 10y ago
    They do. Dishwashing pays well above minimum wage in Minneapolis, for unskilled labor. They struggle to find staff.
    - choko 10y ago
      To me, that suggests that even though they offer well above minimum wage, they haven't arrived at a fair market value yet.
- ConfuciusSay02 10y ago
  It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs... [at the slave wage offered] That last part is rarely, if ever, mentioned when the "locals won't do these jobs" nonsense gets trotted out.
  - beat 10y ago
    Or in the case of skilled labor, locals can't do those jobs. Is the reason there are so many immigrants in IT because the job doesn't pay well enough?
    - ConfuciusSay02 10y ago
      Perhaps it has something to do with the institutionalized abuse of the immigration system in order to import workers who are paid less and are far less likely to leave or demand higher wages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU The idea that there is a STEM shortage is a bonafide myth. Remember that we're talking about the same industry that perpetuated the largest wage fixing cartel in human history. It's amazing how many people around here just can't wrap their heads around the fact that increased labor supply means lower wages. You only have to listen to a handful of earnings calls with giant corporations talking with glee about how elastic the labor markets are, and how that will be a huge boon to their earnings.
- whenwillitstop 10y ago
  Immigrants are paid less, work harder to stay here, cannot switch jobs due to H1B visa laws, are happy to be here at all.
sanderjd 10y ago
Why would people want to immigrate to a country where they can't find work? The answer is that they can find work. Why can they find work if unemployment is high? I see a few possible answers: 1. Unemployment isn't actually high, 2. Employers are illegally paying immigrants below minimum wage knowing they have no legal recourse, or 3. They are taking jobs that those here are unwilling to take. How does a crackdown on illegal immigration speak to any of this?

"the real underlying issue is unemployment/underemployment" Why is a country that as high unemployment allowing high levels of immigration? Being mad about that seems highly rational to me

beat 10y ago

Why aren't citizens doing the jobs that immigrants do? That's a more rational question. Hiring immigrants isn't necessarily cheaper or easier. It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs otherwise.

choko 10y ago
"It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs otherwise." What if they did something crazy, like offer higher wages to attract employees?
- beat 10y ago
  They do. Dishwashing pays well above minimum wage in Minneapolis, for unskilled labor. They struggle to find staff.
  - choko 10y ago
    To me, that suggests that even though they offer well above minimum wage, they haven't arrived at a fair market value yet.
ConfuciusSay02 10y ago
It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs... [at the slave wage offered] That last part is rarely, if ever, mentioned when the "locals won't do these jobs" nonsense gets trotted out.
- beat 10y ago
  Or in the case of skilled labor, locals can't do those jobs. Is the reason there are so many immigrants in IT because the job doesn't pay well enough?
  - ConfuciusSay02 10y ago
    Perhaps it has something to do with the institutionalized abuse of the immigration system in order to import workers who are paid less and are far less likely to leave or demand higher wages. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU The idea that there is a STEM shortage is a bonafide myth. Remember that we're talking about the same industry that perpetuated the largest wage fixing cartel in human history. It's amazing how many people around here just can't wrap their heads around the fact that increased labor supply means lower wages. You only have to listen to a handful of earnings calls with giant corporations talking with glee about how elastic the labor markets are, and how that will be a huge boon to their earnings.
whenwillitstop 10y ago
Immigrants are paid less, work harder to stay here, cannot switch jobs due to H1B visa laws, are happy to be here at all.

sanderjd 10y ago

Why would people want to immigrate to a country where they can't find work? The answer is that they can find work. Why can they find work if unemployment is high? I see a few possible answers: 1. Unemployment isn't actually high, 2. Employers are illegally paying immigrants below minimum wage knowing they have no legal recourse, or 3. They are taking jobs that those here are unwilling to take. How does a crackdown on illegal immigration speak to any of this?