Regarding Labor - When Facts Catch Up With Emotion

What's the Final Economic Cost? By Kevin Rogers, President of the Arizona Farm Bureau ARIZONA I appreciate facts don't sell emotion does, and there is nothing more emotional than immigration these days. But facts are troublesome things and they won't go away, no matter how much we deny them. Next year, for the first time, we will have more citizens leaving the work force than joining it. Over the next few years, the number of Americans age 55 and older will grow 5 times that of growth in the workforce. One fourth of the population or over 76 million people are in their mid 40's. We have jobs to fill and the native born will not be there. We are nearly at full employment. In agriculture we have seasonal needs in particular areas, but that does not necessarily correspond to areas of the country where people are looking for work. We are increasingly educated. We are aging rapidly, and Americans have other career alternatives than many of our employment needs require. There is a labor shortage in this country, for both entry level and skilled workers. It exists. Employers know it. Paying more will not increase the pool of native-born workers. You cannot make the native-born pool any bigger by paying more wages. We need to stop the argument as to whether Americans will or will not do certain jobs employers know the reality Americans simply are not available to do many of these jobs. Judith Gans at the University of Arizona puts it very well: Demographic trends have divided the world into two economic "camps." One is characterized by mature, immigrant-receiving economies with aging, slow-growing populations. The other consists of developing, immigrant-sending economies with younger, more rapidly growing populations. Legal, as well as illegal, migration by people moving for economic reasons is a worldwide phenomenon. (Gans, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, 2006). Despite the problems, the United States must be an immigrant receiving country in order for the economy to remain healthy and grow. You may find that unsettling, but denying it will not change a thing. The longer we take to accept this, the worse the problem will become. We have neither the visas nor an appropriate process to import the labor we need. Our labor supply is unreliable. Can employers change that the answer is "no" only the federal government can fix this. Should it be legal you bet again the federal government can fix this, but they have not. And a major reason is the public is rolling on emotion and fear. I know immigration impacts the public in many ways, but we must fix this as a labor issue. Facts will catch up with emotion the only question is when and the economic costs in the interim. The Arizona Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and improving the Agriculture industry through member involvement in education, political activities, programs and services. As a member services organization, individuals can become a member by contacting the Farm Bureau. Go to www.azfb.org to learn more. For information on member benefits call 480.635.3606.