Immigrant Job Numbers Grow

[peejay 327]

Immigrant Job Numbers Grow as American Employment Declines

On Thursday of last week, the House Judiciary Committee's Immigration Subcommittee met to hear testimony on the effect of immigration on the American job market. The hearing, entitled "New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who Are Getting Them and Who Are Not," is especially relevant given that many Americans are still struggling to find work in the midst of our nation's weak economy.

At the hearing, Dr. Rakesh Kochar, Associate Director for Research at the Pew Hispanic Center, testified that in the year following the official end of the recession (June 2009), foreign-born workers gained 656,000 jobs while native-born workers lost an additional 1.2 million jobs. Foreign born workers, he said represent 15.7% of the total American workforce and that the immigrant share of the U.S. working-age population is rising. (See Pew, Hispanic Center, After the Great Recession: Foreign Born Gain Jobs; Native Born Lost Jobs, Oct. 29, 2010) As of last year, he said, at least 8 million unauthorized immigrants participated in the U.S. labor market. (Pew Hispanic Center, "Unauthorized Immigrant Population: National and State Trends, 2010")

Economist Heidi Shierholz, from the Economic Policy Institute, testified that despite the fact that economists have declared an official end to the recession, there are still 5.4 percent fewer jobs available than when the recession began in 2007. Shierholz argued that the immigration system is completely unresponsive to the economic cycle. "For example, in 2010, the unemployment rate in construction was over 20 percent, but the Department of Labor nevertheless certified thousands of H-2B visas for construction workers. This defies logic," she said. Part of immigration reform, she concluded, would take into account the actual needs of the economy and its ability to accept additional workers.

Additional testimony came from Steven Camarota, Director of Research for the Center for Immigration Studies, and Greg Serbon, State Director of Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement (IFIRE). Camarota voiced concern that jobs created over the past decade are primarily going to foreign-born workers, while the number of working-age natives with jobs has fallen dramatically. Mr. Serbon spoke out about against the plethora of visa programs which allow non-immigrants to work in America and the prevalence of non-immigrant temporary visa holders overstaying the authorized visa time.

Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), stated that there is no more important issue that the subcommittee can address above how to preserve jobs for American workers. And when it comes to finding solutions for the unemployed and underemployed Americans who are still struggling, the Chairman made clear that the "answer is not to keep adding to the supply of low-skilled workers during a severe recession and its aftermath."

http://www.fairus.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=23944&security=1601&news_iv_ctrl=1721#1

[^_^ 5,021]

I don't know anything about the H2B program but the H1B program is rife with corruption..

[peejay 327]

I don't know anything about the H2B program but the H1B program is rife with corruption..

The US government therefore is corrupt. These programs are administered by our government.

[Dakine10 5,452]

I don't know anything about the H2B program but the H1B program is rife with corruption..

The H2B is used for temporary non agricultural workers. One of the biggest users of this visa is the hotel industry.

[Dakine10 5,452]

The US government therefore is corrupt. These programs are administered by our government.

The corruption is generally by the employer or recruiter, not the government.

The most common in the H2B program is to advertise a low skilled, low wage position that generates little interest from US applicants. The employer then hires a H2B worker and has them working in a higher skilled job that should actually pay higher (and thus would have generated more interest from US workers).

Most H2B's are legitimate. The average H2B visa is issued for 5 months, and often pays close to minimum wage. Many of these jobs are for seasonal peak labor needs and involve long hours worked for a short period of time, such as 2-3 months. The reality is, a lot of people can't or won't to do back breaking labor for long hours for minimum wage.

[Samoray 165]

Immigrant Job Numbers Grow as American Employment Declines

On Thursday of last week, the House Judiciary Committee's Immigration Subcommittee met to hear testimony on the effect of immigration on the American job market. The hearing, entitled "New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who Are Getting Them and Who Are Not," is especially relevant given that many Americans are still struggling to find work in the midst of our nation's weak economy.

At the hearing, Dr. Rakesh Kochar, Associate Director for Research at the Pew Hispanic Center, testified that in the year following the official end of the recession (June 2009), foreign-born workers gained 656,000 jobs while native-born workers lost an additional 1.2 million jobs. Foreign born workers, he said represent 15.7% of the total American workforce and that the immigrant share of the U.S. working-age population is rising. (See Pew, Hispanic Center, After the Great Recession: Foreign Born Gain Jobs; Native Born Lost Jobs, Oct. 29, 2010) As of last year, he said, at least 8 million unauthorized immigrants participated in the U.S. labor market. (Pew Hispanic Center, "Unauthorized Immigrant Population: National and State Trends, 2010")

Economist Heidi Shierholz, from the Economic Policy Institute, testified that despite the fact that economists have declared an official end to the recession, there are still 5.4 percent fewer jobs available than when the recession began in 2007. Shierholz argued that the immigration system is completely unresponsive to the economic cycle. "For example, in 2010, the unemployment rate in construction was over 20 percent, but the Department of Labor nevertheless certified thousands of H-2B visas for construction workers. This defies logic," she said. Part of immigration reform, she concluded, would take into account the actual needs of the economy and its ability to accept additional workers.

Additional testimony came from Steven Camarota, Director of Research for the Center for Immigration Studies, and Greg Serbon, State Director of Indiana Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement (IFIRE). Camarota voiced concern that jobs created over the past decade are primarily going to foreign-born workers, while the number of working-age natives with jobs has fallen dramatically. Mr. Serbon spoke out about against the plethora of visa programs which allow non-immigrants to work in America and the prevalence of non-immigrant temporary visa holders overstaying the authorized visa time.

Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX), stated that there is no more important issue that the subcommittee can address above how to preserve jobs for American workers. And when it comes to finding solutions for the unemployed and underemployed Americans who are still struggling, the Chairman made clear that the "answer is not to keep adding to the supply of low-skilled workers during a severe recession and its aftermath."

http://www.fairus.or..._iv_ctrl=1721#1

The thing is that Immigrants, legal or illegal would accept jobs at a lower wages than an American born citizen would, that's why some businesses are still risking hiring illegal immigrants, because they profit

[Luv4Eslam 0]

Agreed! I've seen a lot of different examples of this over the years. While I lived on my reservation, I witnessed the farmer's who lease the land from Tribal members, paying illegal immigrants (Mexicans) to do physical labor jobs that no one else will do, for less than minimum wage. While living in NYC, I observed many business owner's, American's born in USA and Immigrated Americans who made a lot of money by paying their employees under the table, not reporting any of their income (that rightfully should be taxed)(employer and employee)! The employers don't report true records and by-pass paying into resources like unemployment insurance, licensing and bonding fees, benefits for employees, etc... Not to mention that we all know how expensive health care is in USA! This leads to another factor that really upsets me to no end! In USA we have this immigration process that is taking a ridiculous amount of time and money, when/if you follow the legal process. Then we have other's who abuse the system, whether it be over staying their visitor's/work/student visas or just sneaking across the borders. Then to top it off, we have immigrants who have never paid a dime into our programs like social security, who are eligible for benefits! Straight up, we have a very corrupt government and flawed system that has too many loopholes for the lazy, cheaters that refuse to be worker bee, slaves like the rest of us! Everybody wants to get paid. Look how many students in USA have gone into debt, buying into the American dream, trying to better themselves, who cannot even get a job to live, let alone pay off their student loans. Then the corporations outsource jobs to foreign countries because they will work for less as well. It's not right!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

At the hearing, Dr. Rakesh Kochar, Associate Director for Research at the Pew Hispanic Center, testified that in the year following the official end of the recession (June 2009), foreign-born workers gained 656,000 jobs while native-born workers lost an additional 1.2 million jobs.

Sorry, but this kind of statistic doesn't sit well with me. Being a naturalized citizen, I fall into the former category. As do other naturalized citizens and lawful permanent residents. So, what exactly is this statistic good for? Are naturalized Americans the next target? #######? I can understand and share the frustration over issuance of work visas while Americans - both native born and naturalized - as well as lawful permanent residents continue having a hard time finding gainful employment.

[Zero Sum 305]

Sorry, but this kind of statistic doesn't sit well with me. Being a naturalized citizen, I fall into the former category. As do other naturalized citizens and lawful permanent residents. So, what exactly is this statistic good for? Are naturalized Americans the next target? #######? I can understand and share the frustration over issuance of work visas while Americans - both native born and naturalized - as well as lawful permanent residents continue having a hard time finding gainful employment.

Hard economic times always bring out the scapegoats. And yes, that's a one liner, for anyone interested in glossing over what it actually says.

[peejay 327]

Hard economic times always bring out the scapegoats. And yes, that's a one liner, for anyone interested in glossing over what it actually says.

What does it say? The only mind reader we have at VJ is Madame Cleo. The rest of us have to have words and text to decipher other peoples' posts.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Sorry, but this kind of statistic doesn't sit well with me. Being a naturalized citizen, I fall into the former category. As do other naturalized citizens and lawful permanent residents. So, what exactly is this statistic good for? Are naturalized Americans the next target? #######? I can understand and share the frustration over issuance of work visas while Americans - both native born and naturalized - as well as lawful permanent residents continue having a hard time finding gainful employment.

Not the next target.

You are already a target.

[Zero Sum 305]

What does it say? The only mind reader we have at VJ is Madame Cleo. The rest of us have to have words and text to decipher other peoples' posts.

It says that hard economic times always bring out the scapegoats.

[peejay 327]

It says that hard economic times always bring out the scapegoats.

There are no scapegoats. The facts speak for themselves.

[Zero Sum 305]

There are no scapegoats. The facts speak for themselves.

Indeed they do- for what is the fact about those 'numbers.' Sometimes they can be misconstrued as well.

Furthermore, if you're talking about equivalent job opportunities, then we'd have some kind of logical, approachable discussion. We don't. So those 'facts' are a bit inconclusive.

[Peikko 1,575]

What does it say? The only mind reader we have at VJ is Madame Cleo. The rest of us have to have words and text to decipher other peoples' posts.

Baiting noted.