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Effects of Illegal Immigrants on the Workforce

Effects of Illegal Immigrants on the Workforce

Effects of Illegal Immigrants on the Workforce

The issue of illegal immigration has been a hot topic for many years. Many people support it, some people are against it, but there is one thing everyone can agree on; the issue affects almost every aspect of American society. In this article, we will examine the effects of illegal immigrants on the American workforce.

Introduction

Illegal immigrants are people who enter a country without permission or overstay their visas. They are called illegal because they are not authorized to live or work in the country they are in. As of 2018, there were approximately 10.5 million illegal immigrants in the United States. When it comes to the American workforce, there are many opinions on how they affect it.

Employment

One of the most controversial aspects of illegal immigrants and the American workforce is their employment. Many people argue that illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, illegal immigrants make up about 5% of the American workforce, and most of them work in low-wage jobs such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality.

There is no denying that illegal immigrants work hard and are willing to take on jobs that many Americans would not consider. But the question is, do they take jobs away from Americans? The answer is not straightforward. According to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in most cases, illegal immigrants do not have a significant effect on the employment of native-born workers.

In fact, the report states that illegal immigrants can have a positive effect on the wages of native-born workers. This is because illegal immigrants are often willing to work for lower wages, which can drive down the wages of native-born workers in the same industries. However, this is not the case across all industries. In some industries, illegal immigrants can have a negative effect on the employment of native-born workers, especially in areas where there are already high rates of unemployment.

Tax Contributions

Another argument against illegal immigrants is that they do not contribute to the tax system. This is not entirely true. According to a report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, illegal immigrants in the United States pay approximately $11.7 billion in taxes each year. This includes income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. The report suggests that if illegal immigrants were given a pathway to citizenship, they would contribute even more to the tax system.

However, the report also notes that illegal immigrants do not contribute as much as native-born workers. This is because illegal immigrants often work in low-wage jobs and do not earn as much money as native-born workers. They also do not have access to some tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Labor Exploitation

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to the effects of illegal immigrants on the American workforce is labor exploitation. Many illegal immigrants work in industries where they are vulnerable to exploitation, such as agriculture and construction. According to a report by the United Nations, illegal immigrants are often subject to low pay, long hours, and poor working conditions.

This is a major issue because it can lead to the exploitation and abuse of workers. Many illegal immigrants are afraid to report labor violations because they fear deportation. This means that their employers can get away with mistreating them without any repercussions.

Competition in the Job Market

One of the major concerns regarding illegal immigrants and the American workforce is the competition in the job market. Native-born workers are often concerned that illegal immigrants will take their jobs. However, the effects of illegal immigration on the job market are not as straightforward as they seem.

Illegal immigrants often work in jobs that are difficult, dangerous, and low-paying. These are jobs that many Americans are not willing to do. Therefore, illegal immigrants do not necessarily take jobs away from Americans; they fill jobs that are often left unfilled.

The problem arises in areas where there is already high unemployment. In these areas, illegal immigrants can have a negative effect on the job market because they are willing to work for lower wages than native-born workers. This can drive down wages and make it difficult for Americans to find work.

Conclusion

Illegal immigrants have a significant impact on the American workforce. They contribute to the economy through their work and pay taxes, but they also face exploitation and abuse. The effects of illegal immigration on the job market are complex and not always straightforward. However, it is clear that illegal immigrants play a crucial role in many industries and their contributions to the economy should not be ignored.

It is up to policymakers to create a system that works for everyone. This includes finding a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants that have lived and worked in the United States for years, improving the working conditions of all employees, and ensuring that Americans have access to jobs and fair wages. By working together, we can create a workforce that benefits everyone.


The debate surrounding illegal immigration and illegal immigrants stems partly from their respective role in the American workforce. Many people assume that illegal immigrants and illegal immigration cause work shortages and lower wages for American citizens.

Although, recent studies partly agree with this assertion, the general American public are not deemed to be the the primary benefactors of illegal migrant labor. The extra labor – regardless of legality – contributes to rising food and housing costs would quickly cut into the slight pay increase that would come from an elimination of the illegal immigration workforce.

Demographics show that illegal immigrants tend to cluster around specific occupational arenas; the majority of the current illegal immigration workforce flock to agricultural, construction, and service-oriented locales, resulting in a lowered the expected salary for this type of labor, falling well below the minimum wage. Even though a mere fraction of savings are passed onto consumers from illegal immigrants joining the workforce in large numbers, the majority of Americans actually benefit from this reduction.

The first reason that this decrease of illegal immigration would be negligible is the percentage of total expenditure that labor actually costs a business owner. Most of the costs associated with the types of businesses illegal immigrants work for are infrastructure and equipment related. Cutting illegal immigration from the workforce would give more citizens employment, but the higher expense of labor would pass directly to the consumers.

Generally, illegal immigrants occupy unskilled labor that does not appeal to the majority of American citizens. Removing illegal immigration would force businesses to raise the salary for unskilled labor, again passing the cost onto the consumer.

Obviously the notion of an illegal immigrants’ economy affects people differently. Essentially the more money a citizen makes and then spends on service-oriented labor generally assumed by illegal immigrants, the more they benefit from illegal immigration. The majority of American citizens currently have a high school diploma and earn more than average illegal immigrants, and as a result, the argument can be made that the majority of Americans actually benefit from illegal immigration.

In terms of dollars and cents, the average American citizen actually gains more than they lose from illegal immigration. This is not to assume or take position on the legal or humane issues related to illegal immigrant labor, but to offer an alternative to the preconceived notions that adversely depict illegal immigration and immigrant labor.

When looking at the illegal immigrants’ workforce from top to bottom, the sheer number of workers would presumably take jobs directly from American citizens, however, their usual form of labor remains unattractive to the vast majority of citizens. In summation, the economic effect of illegal immigration remains relatively small, and for most Americans, actually proves to be advantageous.