How can so many jobs go to Mexico when...............

self

[hsmomx3]

...their level of education is way below that of an American worker?

How much does it cost to train these Mexican workers?

These are just some questions posed to me over the weekend.

[mpreston]

Maybe because in some areas our public education system is striving for 3rd world standards?

[joesnuffy]

automation

[boomop1]

The question answers it self, you don't have to be an Einstine to do most union jobs.

[hsmomx3]

I'll agree with that. No doubt about it.

[Destructor]

How much of an education is needed to shovel shit? The jobs that are going down there aren't much better.

[Phantom Lord]

Because the jobs being "exported" are low skill and no skill jobs.

[KarlInOhio]

Do you want them to solve quadratic equations while quoting from Don Quixote or do you want them to put on bolt #237 a thousand times a day? The second doesn't require much education or training.

[dead]

How can so many jobs go to Mexico when...............

when all the Mexicans are in the United States?

[Hodar]

My company has two manufacturing sites. One outside of Memphis, the other is overseas.

Why? Well, we develop and prototype our products in the USA. Sure, it costs more; but they are in the same time zone, and we can travel back and forth without a major impact to our schedules.

Once our product is finalized, and the serious production starts up, we transport the product overseas. This means that the FILES for the board, and the computer systems that populate the board, and the machines that attach and solder the board are simply transported. Human hands manually attach some wires, and put the board into the case. Human hands then tighten the screws, and package the box.

After taking into consideration international travel for a team of engineers to the site a couple of times a year (including 10-day course of Malaria pills, shots and hassle), the fact that a simple change requires days to verify (10+ time zones away), language/cultural differences, and costs incurred through shipping and the import/export tarrifs; it is far, far cheaper for us to do things this way. If we can't sell our product for the rock-bottom price, our company will go broke.

Bottom line, we build where it makes the most sense.

[taxcontrol]

First, you are making the assumption that their education is SIGNIFICANTLY below what is in the US. Considering what I have seen coming out of US High schools and some colleges, I would say that is not a valid assumption.

I would contend that your average US HS graduate is only marginally better educated than his Mexican counterpart.

Next, look at the motivation level. The average US citizen is NOT going to be willing to do 2 hours of reading every night for a month to have a chance at promotion. I find the many Mexican workers will not only do this study but will ask for more material to study.

Also, the cost of teaching a class in the US is significantly higher than in Mexico. The cost for rental of facilities, a local native speaker or the cost of housing a US spanish speaker, are lower than in the US.

Also, there is the administrative burden. In the US employees have to be trained about equal opportunity, OSH and safety regulations, etc etc etc. These rules do not apply in Mexico. Thus the overall material that needs to be trained comes down to 1) show up on time or we will get the next Miguel to replace you and 2) here is how you operate the machinery. And since in the US, manuals and procedures are written to an 8th grade level, all that is basically needed is translation from English to Spanish.

[BallyBill]

Touche'

[NativeNewYorker]

on top of all the other correct economics on this thread, there's this: 3rd worlders may be only 1/4 as productive as USers, but you pay them 1/10 as much. The math works out.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You can train a chimpanzee to sit and work in a factory all day.

[P.O.E.]

IMHO, only a masochistic corporation would open a plant here. The bureaucracy is a nightmare, and each employee is a potentially huge liability from lawsuits.

120 people die in a mine in China, it's like "oh, well" (pun not intended). Here in the US, the boss looks sideways at someone, and the place is overrun with self-appointed guardians after a buck.

Safety & employee rights are important, but the US has gone WAY overboard in the legal & regulatory arena.

[xJones]

..their level of education is way below that of an American worker?

How much does it cost to train these Mexican workers?

Hint: it's el cheapo!

There aren't all the health insurance benefits, etc., no unions, and there is no minimum wage. It costs a lot more to live an American life, unless you are a Mexican illegal in the U.S., living 8 or more in a one bedroom apartment with U.S. tax-payers supplied social benefits while sending your money home to Mexico.

[taxcontrol]

Also be aware of your most basic starting assumptions. Many people in the US accept on faith that a person should be paid what they are worth. This is often advocated by the Unions, Democrats and Femi-nazis.

Truth is, you will never, AND I MEAN NEVER, be paid more than what it costs to replace you. That goes for unskilled, skilled, management and even executives. Regardless of your job title you produce "X". If the business can get "X" from someone else at a cheaper cost to the company, pfffft you are out the door. Harsh, but labor and intellect are no more than one more commodity in the great cog of capitalism. Just like power, space, and raw materials business will always look to lower those costs as well. The trick to getting and MAINTAINING a high paying job is NOT A DEGREE. Rather it is being more valuable to the company than what they can get elsewhere. A degree CAN be one factor in that equation. But so is willingness to travel, to take on additional work, ability to sell, public speaking, ability to find or create new opportunities, etc.

[Indy Pendance]

Maybe not, but Einstein was a genuis.

[dead]

You can train a chimpanzee to sit and work in a factory all day.

Well, if a chimp can do the job, I see no reason to pay a lazy union slob $19 an hour to do it.

[gcruse]

.their level of education is way below that of an American worker?

If you really believe a Master's Degree is necessary to teach arithmetic to second-graders, then you believe the American worker has some sort of skill remotely related to the education he received at the public equalizer.