[beat]

Why aren't citizens doing the jobs that immigrants do? That's a more rational question.

Hiring immigrants isn't necessarily cheaper or easier. It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs otherwise.

[ConfuciusSay02]

It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs... [at the slave wage offered]

That last part is rarely, if ever, mentioned when the "locals won't do these jobs" nonsense gets trotted out.

[beat]

Or in the case of skilled labor, locals can't do those jobs.

Is the reason there are so many immigrants in IT because the job doesn't pay well enough?

[ConfuciusSay02]

Perhaps it has something to do with the institutionalized abuse of the immigration system in order to import workers who are paid less and are far less likely to leave or demand higher wages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU

The idea that there is a STEM shortage is a bonafide myth. Remember that we're talking about the same industry that perpetuated the largest wage fixing cartel in human history.

It's amazing how many people around here just can't wrap their heads around the fact that increased labor supply means lower wages. You only have to listen to a handful of earnings calls with giant corporations talking with glee about how elastic the labor markets are, and how that will be a huge boon to their earnings.

[choko]

"It's something employers do because they can't fill those jobs otherwise."

What if they did something crazy, like offer higher wages to attract employees?

[beat]

They do. Dishwashing pays well above minimum wage in Minneapolis, for unskilled labor. They struggle to find staff.

[choko]

To me, that suggests that even though they offer well above minimum wage, they haven't arrived at a fair market value yet.

[whenwillitstop]

Immigrants are paid less, work harder to stay here, cannot switch jobs due to H1B visa laws, are happy to be here at all.