Posted on 07/23/2005 6:33:44 PM PDT by 4.1O dana super trac pak
The uncomfortable reality, as Andrew Sum sees it, is that there's a direct link between the steep national decline in teen employment rates and the growing practice of businesses hiring illegal immigrants and paying them off the books.
Sum is the director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University and lead author of a widely cited nationwide study projecting teen employment will continue to fall, with a drop to 36.7 percent this summer from 45 percent in 2000. That puts it at or near its lowest level since the data series began in 1948, despite a strengthening economy and improving overall labor market.
"The immigrant increase in employment is overwhelming. Every net new job created is taken by an immigrant. I know that's shocking, but that's the truth," Sum said offering his sober assessment. "It happened in Massachusetts and New York in the 1990s, and now its happening in the country as a whole."
That's not to say the sole reason teens are getting squeezed out is that businesses are breaking the rules, going underground and hiring unskilled immigrant labor.
It's always been the case that some high school kids might not get work because they are lazy, lack initiative, face racism, need contacts, don't have a car or can afford to do something else because they have rich parents.
'snip'
But what has Sum particularly intrigued and concerned is the undeniable evidence that more American businesses are opting to expand profits and remain competitive by hiring low-cost undocumented workers instead of paying taxes, workers' compensation and even rudimentary health benefits for legal workers. "I haven't seen anything like this in 25 years," Sum said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
I mowed grass starting when I was 10 for $5 a yard and had 10 customers. I mowed all ten yards one day (they were all adjoining) and the customers tipped me with a brand new Toro lawn mower at the end of the year. I did that till I was 14 and then gave the mower and my customers to my friend when I went to work installing ceiling fans full time. Bastard is probably a millionaire now.....;-)
My son is a LCPL in the USMC. He pays his bills and pays for his college. The USMC pays some of his college costs. Some comes from student loans. His real estate work has netted so much money that he is required to start repaying the student loans before he even graduates. He will have roughly $20,000 in student loan debt on graduation day next March. Getting the broker's license is going to help pound down that debt in a hurry. When that is complete, it is time for the LSAT.
What do you do? I told my boss I needed a $3 raise (hadn't had one in three years) and then we were contacted by another GC who is desperate and I told him I needed another $3 to go with him. So I got $6 raise an hour but I have to run a job. Awwwww.....LOL
"Been saying that for years.. I think my daughter was two the last time a teen asked about mowing my lawn."
You hit the nail correctly. Too many parents currently are far more into what the Jones next door would think if their little darling was seen working as a "day laborer". Cripes what happened America? Oh yeah, shallow transparency. I have a relative who would not allow her high school son to mow lawns for summer cash cause gosh GULP, mustn't let the neighbors see him as beneath well to do status. And the boy begged his mother to let him work doing lawn care!! This is why so many enter their twenties absolutely helpless regarding domestic duties for themselves. Like regressive learning. Strange
"more American businesses are opting to expand profits and remain competitive by hiring low-cost undocumented workers instead of paying taxes, workers' compensation and even rudimentary health benefits for legal workers"
Another trend has been for small time retailers to hire ex-petty felons on parole as cheap nearing minimum wage labor also paid in cash.
After watching a local roofing contracter switch over almost entirely to illegal subs, I decided to start watching them in my neighborhood.
One day I noticed that a van they were using with Texas plates (here in Florida) had no registration sticker and was towing a trailer with FL tags.
The next day the van was gone from the house they were working on and three guys were now there in a white car - same Texas tag though was now on the white car.
You can never tell when you can get the ball rolling on a felony. Out of date temp tags, expired registration sticker, tags that don't match, etc.
"It's been like this now for a while now - and I'm beginning to wonder if the color of their skin is wrong and/or maybe it's because they're clean-cut & speak only English."
Whenever I go to the grocery store (in an upscale community in New Jersey), the staff speaks ONLY Spanish to each other, and announcements over the public address system (as in, "clean up in aisle 5") are made ONLY in Spanish. They do speak English to customers, but Spanish is the language of communication in their workplace.
They may still speak English on Wall Street, but if you want a job at your local grocery store or restaurant, you better speak Spanish.
I still spend 4 1/2 hours each weekend mowing lawns at my two homes in Pocatello. At least I don't have to do that from October to April :-) It's my summer "fitness" program. The winter "fitness" program is shoveling snow.
It's coming.
I guess those are more jobs that we Americans don't want??
There's another aspect to this. A lot of teens who, for whatever reason, can't go to college aren't able to find employment after high school, or can't find employment that enables them to afford an apartment.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to make a profit. But more and more, the business community is living in a culture of corruption and entitlement.
This is going on everywhere now.
"GC" usually refers to General Contractor.
Unless one is in a medical setting; then it's Golf Course!
GC means General Contractor. They hire sub contractors to do specific trades works.
In my universe I am the king. I tell people what to do, when to do it, and I rule with a fair iron fist...
Thats another FACT buddy...If you own a business you are the king. MINE MINE MINE...and they make me MONEY MONEY MONEY that I spend on ME....
What planet are you living on?
AHH...no wonder I had a problem with that one - I work in the medical industry! Thanks for the clarification!
Wanna hear a twist? My youngest tossed papers (as an independent contractor) for five years to save up for his car, then got a job with the newspaper (at 19) overseeing the adult contractors!
Gee, can't imagine anyone not wanting to work hard for you, except for the downtrodden who have no choice but to put up with your ego and lack of respect.
You must have been treated very poorly in your youth to have such contempt for white kids (or, pussies as you call them) who expect to be treated decently. Way to go!
Thats another FACT buddy...If you own a business you are the king. MINE MINE MINE...and they make me MONEY MONEY MONEY that I spend on ME....
And how's that workin' for ya? LOL. (envisioning the white coats and straight jacket nearby for you)
Nam Vet
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