Too much immigration requires native workers to take less secure, pension unfunded jobs?

Question

Is that only in the UK, do you think?

"An influx of foreign workers has damaged job security by increasing the number of temporary and short-term posts, said Professor David Blanchflower, a member of the interest-rate setting Monetary Policy Committee.

advertisementHe said the trend was leading to stagnation in long-term growth, with employers using migrants to avoid permanent contract costs such as pension contributions.

Shops, pubs, restaurants and other parts of the service sector are now almost entirely staffed by migrant workers, Prof Blanchflower claimed.

In a memo, he said: "There have been strong increases in temporary workers who can't find permanent jobs and part-timers who can't find full-time jobs. The number of self-employed has also grown at a rate that is clearly unsustainable."

Employment figures reported show that the number of temporary workers in the UK has risen by 12 per cent in the past year, from 355,000 to 400,000.

The number of permanent jobs created over the same period is a little over 1,000.

The professor's concerns came to light as unemployment continues to rise, with official figures showing that the number of unemployed people increased by 6,000 between July and September to 1.67million."

What do you think?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/19/nmigrants219.xml

(sorry for the advertising reference!)

Answer 1

Dugh.....that's been going on here for a good 20 years.....we just weren't supposed to notice. People here want a "living wage" and can't get it. People are working without any of the "perks" that used to be "normal". That was to "make-up" for low wages......etc. Now you get none of it and are expected to survive on minimum wage. They found every loophole going and rode it to the end and then imported legally or allowed others to come in illegally to keep the farce going.

Trust me....you cannot come here, not have any education, have a dozen kids and work picking tomatoes for 25 cents an hour and survive without lying somewhere. ( Like they are telling us they do.) Whether it be through government subsidies or running an illegal business.... doing it honestly without ANY illegal behavior cannot be done. If the rule of law means something....then you can't allow one group to get away with murder and hold the rest to the rules of a saint and expect harmony and peace. Not to mention jabs of "doing the work Americans think they're too good to do." Sorry.....there's rules and the honest law abiding people are trying to function within those boundries. If the boundries are gone.....heck...let the rest of us know....we can sell drugs and commit crimes and rob and steal with the best of them. Wasn't the object to end racism and sexism and all that to make everyone on a level playing field? They've changed the rules while they've gagged and tied up the majority of the people and tied a concrete block to their ankle, threw them in the river and said "survive". Just don't scream "help" coz that makes you a racist. Don't try and save what you have because that makes you a racist and a zenophobe and a protectionist....hey...there's winners and loosers....you just don't change the rules mid-stream and not expect some backlash. I don't care how civilized you are. We are all trying to survive.

Answer 2

Illegal or Legal immigrants? Illegal Immigrants do take some jobs from naitives, but Legal immigrants fill other job openings. That being said, I'll bet you didn't know that 15 years ago, Janitorial work used to pay around 12-15 dollars an hour. Then employers found out that they could hire illegals for literally a fraction of that. Most people say that Illegals do the job that many americans don't want to do, but the fact is illegals brought down the wages of many jobs and now americans can't work that job and actually survive on the wages.

Answer 3

Like everything else in the market world we live in the basics of economics apply.

Supply/demand will ALWAYS be the main factor in any issue relating to labor, the associated costs, stability for employers/employees and the ability of a nation to withstand the normal ups and downs of all market forces.

Think of it this way. When the US goes through the inevitable economic slowdown we will have 12-20+million additional bodies (illegal immigrants) that will still get $10,000 a year educations, food stamps, WIC checks, housing, medical and other social/governmental costs given to them. These are paid by taxpayers who will be less in number, so the burden will be greater on those of us who remain working. Without a stable workforce who spend their money here, pay taxes here and lead good law-abiding lives the implosion is inevitable.

Answer 4

Countries have immigration laws for very good reasons. It makes no sense to allow immigrants to flood through and displace citizens that are already struggling. People love to bash the US when we attempt to enforce our laws. Our immigration rules are the some of the most relaxed in the world. Mexico on the other hand has some of the most restrictive immigration laws.
What it comes down to is doing was is best for the USA and its citizens. Too bad if you don't like it.

Answer 5

That is the whole point - to drive down wages and eliminate benefits.

Answer 6

Problem on the rise in the US to.

Answer 7

As always we are back to supply and demand.

Answer 8

same stuff is happening in the US as well...