Why do people in the U.S. say that illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans?

Question

As an officer of a large construction company, I can tell those people that we have all kinds of positions that we can't fill at any wage rate. Why are none of the displaced, desparate Americans willing to come work for us? P.S. - I know a lot of restaurant and hotel owners who are in the same position.

Answer 1

I've never understood that argument either.

And you never hear them complaining about the lower prices on goods and services, which are only possible with the increased labor force. Or complaining about the increased GDP, possible only through the increased labor of immigrants.

Answer 2

It's always good to hear a of a large company looking
out for our countrys interest and willing to pay "any wage
rate" in order to get the job done --- sadly, it sounds as though
you're forced to accept illegal alien services at a very low
wage rate with no benefits other than the Social Security,
health and education services that we the public (not you)
are c ontributing to. (if fines were paid to make up the
difference between illegal wages and 1. Social Security
.2. Worker Comp 3. School and other taxes loses, perhaps
large companies would catch on to how much they are hurting
the country by greed) Same for restaurant and hotel owners,
if not nation-wide, in Michigan, these folks are allowed to
pay employees subminimal wage and the government taxes
these wages based on 15% of the employers earnings --
again we the public pick up the tab and the employee picks
up their own wages (out of their tips). Pour as much perfume
as you like it stinks.... Keep it legal or hang the employer
out to dry

Answer 3

I have seen signs up everywhere that indicates a company is hiring. However-the wages are so low that people with a mortgage or car note can not afford to work those jobs. Since illegals have been filling the needs for lower skilled jobs, all wages seem to have dropped dramatically-and no benefits. The only jobs available are not worth having.
All the warning sings are present-we will be sorry someday. I hope you make sure you ( your company) are not part of this huge problem.

Answer 4

American People can not survive on the wadge that you are providing. You have to understand something. NO body will start a construction job that has been doing that job for over 30 years and start out making $8.00 an hour. That is insane.

FYI:
My husband has been a carpenter for 28 years. Here in Michigan the starting wadge is 8 an hour. Is that fair.
A finish carpentry how much would you hire for. own tool, transpiration and 28 years of experience?

So you are left with uneducation illegals that speak no or little English. So yes they are taking jobs away.

Answer 5

I think it is a radical group of people accusing the immigrants from taking jobs away from Americans. I agree with you about filling jobs with American workers. Some of them are either lazy, or too fussy to take any job. Even though a lot of the unemployed have degrees in certain fields, it doen't guarantee them a job in those fields. If they want to have food on the table and a car to drive, take a job that is available. It is the vacancies being created by the 'picky' American laborers that get filled by the immigrants. They seem to be responsible and committed in providing for their families.
The so-called word of illegal immigrants is actually the fault of the US government for not having secure borders in the first place. Now that the immigrants are here the government is trying to close the door on not allowing any more immigrants entering the US from the south. A little too late in my opinion. Now that they are here, every state should serve as a processing center for those wishing to make the USA their home. For those that don't want to, might be faced to return to their homeland.
Sorry, this issue puts me on a 'soap box'.

Answer 6

So, you mean to tell me that you couldn't find a person that can legally work in the US at $20.00 an hour? I call BS on you there. "At any wage rate", my butt. Be realistic, you don't want to pay the wages that legal citizens or even legal immigrants would work for. You would rather use illegals because you can get away with paying them practically nothing, don't have to provide benefits, and you make more money in your pocket as a result.

The real problem here is your "at any wage rate" comment. Just admit that you can't fill the position with a legal worker at the insignificant wage rate you are willing to pay.

Answer 7

Jobs are plentiful in a lot of areas. It is a deep seated prejudice against others that has no bases.
Europeans killed Native Americans, English kept Scotch and Irish in virtual poverty and it was leave or die. That is why so many came to the USA and Australia.
Soon the day will come when Mexico will be our next state.
They have a perfect growing climate and lots of natural resources. But a very corrupt rich class, who doesn't share the wealth. It is only a matter of time and they will turn on them and there won't be anymore rich class.
that is what happened in European countries where that happened.

Answer 8

It's all about perceptions.

I agree, higher end jobs aren't at risk, and so as the lower end jobs that pay ok to decent salary. They are taking the kind of jobs that aren't listed, not paid above the table, and not even acknowledged that they even exist. It has always been this way.

Also, people think, whenever they see a group of people speaking primary in Spanish, they are illegals. In most cases, they are PueroRicans who are legal citizens of this country. (In Florida anyway) They seem to occupy many of the lower paying jobs.

It also depends on where you are. Most problems are concentrated in big cities and places where they border other countries, such as Florida and Texas.

Answer 9

but they all aren't working at construction companies, they are working on farms, doing yard work, restaurants ect.
It's the illegals people are mostly worried about, because they are working and getting benefits when they broke the law to get here, and they are the ones people are mad about taking jobs, not the legal immigrants.

I know the unemployent rate is really really low right now but of that 4.6 or 4.8 who are unemployed, somewere in that range there could be more legal citizens working. which means about 95.2-95.4% are employed.

Answer 10

Sadly, you are right on! The average U.S. citizen, especially the youth, seem to feel above lowly jobs such as agricultural workers (fruit and veggie pickers), fast food restaurants, maid and maintenance services, lawn services, etc. I watched a movie last year called "A Day Without a Mexican" where suddenly one day all the Mexicans in California mysteriously disappear. Everything comes to a screeching halt. Great political comment with a bit of humor thrown in.