Thread: Low-Skilled Immigrants Hit Hardest by Failing Economy

Low-skilled immigrants hit hardest by failing economy

By EMILY BAZAR • November 22, 2008


DENVER - Low-skilled immigrants are taking a hard hit from the faltering economy, losing jobs, sending less money to families overseas and cutting back spending at businesses that cater to them.

The effect is most pronounced on immigrants, both legal and illegal, working in struggling sectors such as construction and manufacturing, says Rakesh Kochhar, associate director for research at the Pew Hispanic Center, a non-partisan research organization. The center estimates there are 11.9 million illegal immigrants in the United States this year.

"People with less skills or less education, and especially those who are in blue collar jobs, are historically more vulnerable to downturns," he says. "The Hispanic immigrant is more likely to be less skilled, less educated and more blue collar" compared with the overall labor force.

In October, the jobless rate was 6.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the rate for Hispanics was 8.8 percent. Slightly more than half of the Hispanic labor force is foreign born, Kochhar says.

At La Pinata Loca, a party supply store on Federal Boulevard here, business has dropped 45 percent since August, owner Xochitl Alvarez says.

Alvarez blames her falling profits on factors including the bad economy and immigrants' fears over stepped-up workplace raids by federal agents. Some of her customers have lost their jobs and others have voluntarily returned to their native countries because of the economy or tougher enforcement measures, she says.

"My Anglo customers are still here," says Alvarez, a U.S. citizen. "My Hispanic customers just don't want to spend the money."

Day laborers may be among the most affected. At the WeCount! Community Worker Center in south Miami, 20 to 30 laborers come in each day to find work, but only one or two land jobs that pay about $10 per hour.

Remittances to some countries, which had been rising steadily, are down. Through September, Mexican immigrants sent $673 million less back home compared with the same period last year, a 3.7 percent drop, says Robert Meins, remittances specialist for the Inter-American Development Bank.

Immigrants who make less spend less. Revenues at Hispanic-owned businesses were down 15 percent to 20 percent from July through September, compared with the same quarter last year, says David Lizarraga, chairman of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In Denver, Alvarez is getting creative. She's cutting prices of some star-shaped pinatas if customers purchase two and is offering layaway plans.

"I'm trying to be flexible with the prices. I will even negotiate with customers," she says. "We're trying to see if we can make it."

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps ... 8811220325

This article focuses on and sympathizes with low-skilled illegal alien workers. Where are the stories about the low-skilled American workers who have been illegally displaced by illegals, even when the economy was doing well?

I should care why??? They are here against the rule of law of the USA .. And have taken jobs unskilled jobs that Americans can and would do.. !! !

Originally Posted by Populist

This article focuses on and sympathizes with low-skilled illegal alien workers. Where are the stories about the low-skilled American workers who have been illegally displaced by illegals, even when the economy was doing well?

GOOD QUESTION!!!!