Introduction
On the macroeconomic level, the inflow of immigrants to a country leads to an expansion in the size of an economy. However, not much attention is paid to the impact that immigration has on employment for local people. It is the tragedies of individuals that are often ignored and not considered when introducing and changing legislation.
The problem that needs to be addressed is the government’s indifference to per-capita impact and lack of consideration for the most vulnerable groups.
It is possible that immigration remains largely unmanaged because it benefits corporations and the government. However, for local residents, such a dynamic creates unhealthy, cut-throat competition. As a result, local people are deprived of fair employment opportunities and have to compete with more candidates at once.
Main body
As of 2020, the workforce of the United States includes 28.4 million foreign workers, which amounts to 17.4% (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). What is more, it is the most prosperous states that have the highest shares of migrant workers: for instance, in California with a flourishing business environment and tech scene, every fourth (27.8%) worker comes from abroad (Public Policy Institute of California, 2017).
Quite a few studies suggest that the inflow of immigrants does not decrease average wages. However, the reality is while across the board, the impact may be negligible, when taking a closer look, one may discover that it is the underprivileged groups that are hurt the most. Edo (2015) states that low-qualified workers who are willing to settle for lower wages worsen the situation for local residents. The same goes for the seasonal job market that is oversaturated with migrant workers (Khattab & Fox, 2016). The wages at seasonal jobs would typically serve as compensation for unemployment risk, but now they are driven down by foreign newcomers. It is safe to conclude that immigration hurts people who are already in a vulnerable position in terms of employment. When moving for work is becoming more common, it is immigration that may have a say in people’s mobility patterns.
Last but not least is the geospatial aspect of constant immigration. As shown by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2017), some natives may react to an influx of immigrants by leaving the areas that have been affected in terms of employment and job security. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2017) explains that in the US, some metropolitan areas are almost fully inhabited by immigrants, forming a tight-knit community. In response to this change, some businesses may decide to move, thus, further depriving local residents of job opportunities.
Conclusion
An influx of immigrants fuels competition in the labor market and hurts the wages of the most vulnerable and underprivileged people. Geographically, it may lead to the displacement of people and businesses, which takes job opportunities elsewhere. It is apparent that while immigration expands the economy, it hurts local residents’ wages and chances for stable employment. The uncontrolled inflow of immigrants means job loss, decreased wages, or shrinking opportunities. Therefore, global mobility should have its limits, and governments need to prioritize their own citizens. Low unemployment and living wages will mean more stability and less crime.
References
Edo, A. (2015). The impact of immigration on native wages and employment. The BE Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 15(3), 1151-1196.
Khattab, N., & Fox, J. (2016). East-European immigrants responding to the recession in Britain: is there a trade-off between unemployment and over-qualification? Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 42(11), 1774-1789.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). The economic and fiscal consequences of immigration. National Academies Press.
Public Policy Institute of California. (2017). Immigrants in California. Web.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020). Foreign-born workers made up 17.4 percent of the labor force in 2019. Web.