The Pew Hispanic Center has released a new report that found that “Foreign-born workers are…experiencing a faster rate of growth in employment than native-born workers.” This continues a trend that began at the start of the economic “recovery” in June 2009, and it highlights the fact that our immigration system is operating to the detriment of American workers.
Given the influence of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other special interest groups that push for an increased immigration level, it should surprise no one that even in the midst of the worst unemployment America has seen in the past 30 years, our government continues to admit millions of foreign workers every year, with some politicians campaigning for even higher levels of admissions – Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Scott Brown (R-Mass.) being the latest.
While not surprising, it is troubling, and Pew’s findings highlight just how empty all the rhetoric is about the strength of the American economy. According to Pew, “Although the recovery added 3 million jobs from 2009 to 2011, that was merely sufficient to keep pace with the growth in the working-age population since 2009. From 2007 to 2009, the recession created a shortfall of about 11 million jobs and that gap is still largely present.” Most disturbing is that the employment level for immigrant workers is back to its pre-recession level, while the employment level for native-born workers is 4.8 million below what was at the end of 2007.
In the run-up to the 2012 election, there is going to be a lot of talk about how important various issues are to voters. The economy, jobs, and immigration are going to be included on most lists. But these three things are inextricably connected, and FAIR is going to continue to remind American voters of that fact as we head into November.