Even At $17 an Hour, Farms Can’t Fill Jobs
That’s the headline of a story in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal. The story details the plight of a berry farmer in California whose strawberries and raspberries last year “rotted in the field” because the farm’s owner “couldn’t find enough workers”.
This year, despite offering 20% raises to the most productive workers from the last harvest, the farm still attracted 40 % fewer workers than needed on harvest days.
The Journal cites the reasons for the desperate failure of fruit, vegetable, and dairy farms to fill jobs even though they’ve started to raise wages faster than inflation and enhancing medical and other benefits:
a) the “crackdown” by the federal government on illegal immigration
b) US-born workers are “unaccustomed to farm labor”
c) “tighter US control of its southern border”
Maybe the “saddest” story of all, according to the Journal’s report is that of a company described as the “country’s largest lemon grower”. In the last 5 years, the firm began paying for workers to learn English or earn vocational degrees at a local college, boosted retirement benefits by 20%, built and rented out to employees 2 and 3 bedroom houses at below market rates, and raised wages 20% to as much as $16 to $17 per hour.
And, still, the company lost 5% of its crops last year because a diminished work force couldn’t harvest them fast enough!
Ok. Remember, though, readers, this is a story from the Wall Street Journal. The Journal is one of the biggest promoters of illegal immigration, supporting the interests of businesses who want illegal immigrant workers who will accept low pay.
Given that, we think it is interesting that another story breaking Thursday, by the Washington Examiner reports that there are now 42 million immigrants in the US, a very large percentage of them here illegally!
Census: Record 42.1 million immigrants in U.S., Mexicans drive latest surge
Washington Examiner graphic
Apparently, the “generosity” of American taxpayers is such that even illegal immigrants are growing “unaccustomed to farm labor”. In some states they can receive medical care, housing subsidies, education, even a wide range of welfare benefits. In some communities, illegal immigrants can be appointed to local government offices!
Further, outside of the Wall Street Journal and the US Chamber of Commerce does anyone believe that the US has exerted “tighter control of its southern border”? And where, exactly, is all this “crackdown” by the federal government on illegal immigration?
Finally, with almost 100 million eligible Americans “out of the work force”, like in not actively seeking employment, isn’t it amazing that somehow many of them are apparently able to turn their noses up at opportunities to earn $17 an hour and benefits?
I’ve long questioned the effectiveness of Republican politicians and conservative pundits deploring the “plight” of “folks”, unable to find work and suffering under the effects of Obama’s ill-conceived and economically destructive policies.
Intended to appeal to voters to elect Republicans who will fix the economy, in my opinion, the message is kind of falling on deaf ears.
I’m wondering, with all this “suffering” going on, who are all these people I see in the crowded malls, the restaurants…fast food and upscale alike…in sports venues where a hundred bucks’ll get you a ticket, parking, three $6 beers and a couple of $4 hotdogs?
Seems to me a lot of the 93 million folks who are out of the work force are not suffering so much that they can’t sneer at $17 hour jobs with benefits. As long as the US can keep borrowing from China, print money, and the taxpayers keep their cash coming, “life is good!”
But, that’s just my opinion. DLH
