[raybbr]

If the supply of illegal workers were cut off, wages for those low-skilled jobs presumably would have to rise enough to attract legal workers into them. If, hypothetically, wage levels rose by a third, that would either add around $1,600 to the cost of the typical house or shave half a percentage point off the builder's 12 percent average profit margin.

Then why are they allowed to come?

[raybbr]

Let me try this again.

Related:

Get-tough policy on employers has had limited effect

Part 1 | Home-building boom relies on illegal workers

[ruination]

Then why are they allowed to come?

Probably because the employers a) want to keep that extra sliver of wages for themselves, and b) prefer workers that don't require benefits and that won't complain if they're mistreated.

[dennisw]

bttt