I’d push it one step further and include “unskilled” labor too. The value added to society is measurably positive no matter the skill level of the immigrant.
Lots of "unskilled" immigrants certainly find useful things to do. And live better lives than they would have at home.
But I think the counter-argument is something like this. Countries with an unlimited pool of low-skill labor have a lot of bad features. One of these is a class gap, between haves and have-nots, who feel they don't share common interests. Another is that the incentive to invent ways to reduce labor input is reduced, why bother if it's cheap? And inventing ways to do more per person is precisely what economic growth is.
But I think the counter-argument is something like this. Countries with an unlimited pool of low-skill labor have a lot of bad features. One of these is a class gap, between haves and have-nots, who feel they don't share common interests. Another is that the incentive to invent ways to reduce labor input is reduced, why bother if it's cheap? And inventing ways to do more per person is precisely what economic growth is.