[astro1234]

Immigration having downward pressure on salaries is a common and demonstrably false misconception. Immigration adds more members to the labor pool while also increasing demand. The two, in most major studies, cancel each other out.

"Immigrant ethnic cronyism" -- would you care to explain a bit more?

[leros]

I'm worried about off shoring. In the past few years I've consulted or been asked to consult at companies who are either off shoring or have offshored most of their engineering team to places like Ukraine. From what I've seen it's been successful. The engineers there are much cheaper, are just as competent, and work much harder, plus their communication in English is great.

[astro1234]

I don't have personal experience with this -- but if I were in the situation where my job was jeopardized by better price efficiencies, I don't know that I personally would have a problem with that. If Ukrainians can do my job just as well or better than I can and they can do it cheaper, I would be worried if my company didn't take advantage of that.

That's my own personal opinion. I can understand how e.g. local and/or temporary changes to wages would be far more concerning and devastating to jobs that are lower paying, but since the question is on tech jobs which are typically much higher paying, I think it's fair game for companies to make strategic decisions in the company's best interest (as long as it doesn't run afoul of laws or human rights). I would be happy for the folks that were able to participate in an economy.

To me it would be unethical to create artificial barriers to lock humans out of opportunities just so I could keep an effectively inflated salary (since this assumes that the true value of the labor is actually lower than what I'm being paid).

[leros]

I'm not entirely against it either. I want everyone everywhere to have the best opportunities. I'm ok with things adjusting a little bit globally even if that means my own earnings go down a bit.

It is interesting though seeing US tech companies, making US level revenue streams, with their US owners making massive profits go from hiring highly paid Americans to hiring overseas people for 25% or less.

Not to be hyper-nationalistic or anything like that, but US tech workers used to get to take advantage of the wealth of the US tech industry. Obviously lots still to do, but many people are unemployed for a long time right now or taking jobs at lower pay. Meanwhile the US owners are making record profits. Feels like a part of the system isn't working anymore.

All that said, I also can't really justify hiring an American developer over an Eastern European developer in many cases. Not all, but many.