by Xuan Hang Trieu

Created on: July 03, 2007   Last Updated: September 18, 2007

As human beings we struggle daily with the need to further our knowledge, to satisfy our inquisitiveness, and to solve all, if not most of the dilemmas that arises, such as labor deficiency. To accomplish this, we need to be a team because together we can achieve more. This is confirmed by Coach Bruce Coslet when he once said, "The era of the rugged individual is giving way to the era of the team player. Everyone is needed, but no one is necessary."

America is steadily reaching the point of labor shortage. There is no doubt that if there is a way to solve this issue without immigrants' help, America would do it. But to solve this problem effectively, many experts believe an influx of foreign-born workers can substitute for "baby-boomers" when they reach the age of retirement; therefore the United States would have a team of foreign-born residents to help solve labor shortage.
The Census Bureau Report validates this by conducting a survey in 2002 to thoroughly understand the labor implications of immigration in America. Although this survey is not up-to-date, it is accurate. In the Census Bureau Report the outcome data verifies that foreign-born inhabitants is gradually increasing. This increase in immigrants provides help by relieving domestic labor shortage in America. This is so because employers seek immigrants to do jobs that citizens are not willing to do; moreover, there will always be occupations that natives are unwilling to accept, whether it is because of the salary, or the work itself. By the same token, more than ninety percent of American workers benefit from the increase of low-wage labor since foreigners accept jobs that complement higher-paid native workers rather than competing with them.
There are many outstanding reasons for an increase of immigrants in America and these reasons help both United States and the foreign-born workers. Allowing more immigrants to enter America when "baby-boomers" are no longer capable of working can be successful since the foreigners help keep our economy growing, and boost wages for the vast majority of native workers.
Without the low-wage workers, the cost of foods to new houses will increase dramatically because employers are paying higher salaries for jobs to get done; therefore profits are lost to businesses that benefit from the low-wages that foreign-born workers earn. At some point in the late 1800's Americans were also complaining when Europeans came over. Natives were upset because immigrants took jobs away from "real Americans". But in truth, the Europeans have helped the United States during that time period. For example, Irish immigrants, now proud Irish-Americans, were employed jobs that African-Americans were refusing. Additionally, when Italians crossed our borders they helped our economy by opening businesses such as the Italian Market in Philadelphia. Although skeptics may not want immigrants to be among them, they must learn that foreigners not only help our economy, they also share with us, the Americans, their cultures; consequently, it is wrong to differentiate. Therefore, the experts' suggestion is worth trying.

Learn more about this author, Xuan Hang Trieu.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.