Do you think illegal immigrants are taking American jobs or lowering wages?

Question

Whether it be high skilled over stays or simple border crossers, in your opinion are American jobs or wages being affected negatively?

Lets keep it polite and not attack each other please.

Thanks

Answer 1

I honestly do think they are lowering wages, so far only for low skilled jobs. So far. An example. In my town, ten years ago the contractors paid about $15 an hour for experienced drywall finishers and $12 an hour for experienced sheetrock hangers. Now the wages are $12 and hour for finishers and $8 an hour for hangers. This is entirely due to a sudden flood of illegal Hispanics. Another example. Ten years ago a guy who needed work could always get a job working on a roofing crew. It's hot and dangerous work and paid about $12 an hour. Now, they only pay $8 an hour and you mostly only see Hispanic day laborers doing it. Another example. Local railroads here hire summer help to work on the tracks. It used to pay $10 an hour and was a good job for farm kids and college students. It now pays $6 or $7 an hour. These are real examples.

The illegals will quit coming when the wages in my town are the same as the wages in El Salvador. So far, only labor jobs wages have been dramatically lowered. I think in the next 15 years we will see higher level jobs have wages lowered as the children of the illegals, graduating from schools we pay for, will flood the labor market.


Kent in SD

Answer 2

I think that logic tells us they must be. The immigration issue is interesting because we find supporters and detractors of the president's bill on either side of the aisle.

I'm typically labeled a liberal, but I want some rather strict immigration regulations. I think that jobs are lost and the ones that aren't lost have had a drop in wages because of the fact that we have so many immigrants willing to do the job for less. We hear that these are jobs Americans won't perform, but the truth is that we won't perform them for the paltry wages paid to illegal immigrants. With regard to skilled labor, I don't know if the same is true, that is skilled alien workers are working for less than skilled American counterparts.

I believe that is the reason that many back such legislation, to keep labor costs low. Does anyone else find it interesting to see Robert Byrd and Birch Bayh voting with the majority of republicans on this issue, and Trent Lott and Ted Kennedy voting together in favor of the president's plan?

Answer 3

I dont think they really take American's jobs, because the reason they're exist and get the jobs because lots of the American dont want it, they think its not worth their time unless they get pay more.
Yet the employers rather have the immigrants because they sure are cheaper but too they think it was a good job.

It's more because the employers want them. The immigrants will not come if they cant get the job.

Wages being affected? One way another yes! If immigrants cant stay in US anymore, then business or manufacturing business will move to anywhere they can get cheap labour, so American will still not getting the jobs as there are less manufacturing companies.
Or business owner will "exchange" people to maschineries.

Shops and restaurants will change to self service ones and if they provide services then price will be very high; means more Americans who cant afford to go to good restaurants .

Actually, if Americans realize that it is time for them to work hard, create good and successful business or be proffessionals, while there are enough immigrants who are willing to do the boring jobs: cleaning, cooking, ironing, waitress, mending etc etc , Americans can live very comfortable. Just like Old Feodalistic European days in modern environment.
Americans make good money, immigrants make good money, Americans can spend time for more exciting activities, immigrants can have better houses/life in their own country.

That's what I think.
I rather work, play golf, cook when I like and have some body clean the house & garden and do the washing-ironings.( I dont mind shopping groceries). Dont need to be too rich and run by your business but have enough and live in comfort.

Answer 4

Yes, I do. I think it is time that the supporters of illegal aliens and their employers PROVE they cannot hire Americans at a decent wage. Employers are benefiting from paying less to illegal aliens. They have lowered wages to Americans as well. When it is proven they need more sources for employees, then legal immigrant quotas should be targeted as filling the need.
It lowers our tax-base as well when illegals are paid under the table. In one case in federal court, a corporation had written off millions of dollars paid to illegals as "recruitment expenses".
It also affects net income of Americans when taxes are raised to fund programs that benefit illegal aliens, such as education or health care.

Answer 5

Yes they are taking jobs. I work in a factory and the illegals were paid the same as I am. When ICE raided and took them out there were 68 legal citizens hired. Just as they undercut many other jobs as in lawn care and construction by being paid under the table.

Answer 6

No. Corporations hiring people attend hat wage are lowering the wage. Who is forging employers to exploit cheap labor?

Answer 7

Lowering wages..... plus the low paying job "entitles" the Illegal Aliens to jump onto US Social Services.

Legal US Citizens especially the Middle Class pay for the so called "Cheap Labor."

Answer 8

I would have to say both. They certainly take startup unskilled jobs from American teenagers, and because employers can hire them at a lower wage rate and then not pay taxes on them, there is an impact on not only wages, but our American tax base as well.

Answer 9

Yes they are being effected negatively. Immigrants are used to making about $1.00 a day in Mexico. So coming over here and making say 8 bucks an hour for a skilled trade is like gold to them, where an American skilled worker would want 15 at a bare minimum. I believe they are mainly effecting the blue collar industry.

Answer 10

Yes they are. I am just thankfull to work for a company that doesn't hire illegals so that I am able to keep my higher wage.