Depression of wages
11 comments
December 24, 7:07 PM
by Kari D'Ottavio, Colorado Immigration Examiner

According to the final report of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, immigration, particularly illegal immigration, has adverse consequences, such as helping to depress wages for low-skilled workers and creating net fiscal costs for state and local governments. More and more, immigrants are filling jobs once held by American workers.

At the same time, American workers' wages have plummeted.

Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) in Storm Lake, Iowa, now pays its employees $7 per hour; a significant decrease compared to the $19 per hour it paid its workers in 1980. Stephen Curry, author of Issues in Immigration, adds "Statistics show that 40% of wage loss among Americans is due to immigration of low-skilled workers."

This reduction of wages for American workers has generated significant debate among those who claim that illegal immigrants only take jobs that Americans refuse to do.
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