[Clemenza]

All that was accomplished on the backs of millions of immigrants from eastern and central Europe, many of whom came through a not-so regulated system until the early part of the 20th century.

The post war era was highly unusual, as the European nations had been destroyed by war, and the Asian tigers were not yet a factor. That why the era of "good high payin' jobs" for the unskilled/semiskilled "werkin' man" only lasted from 1945-1972.

[Freedom4US]

1945?? Factory pay was excellent starting about 1940, everybody new the war was coming. Hell, the Pentagon construction started before Pearl Harbor.

Going a lot farther back, Ford doubled the going industry wage to 5 (five) dollars a day in 1914 for his factory workers, (maybe $150- $200 today) and so many applicants showed up they had to be driven away with firehoses. In January.