CNN Money: Jobless rate higher for U.S.-born than immigrants

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

"Our economy is STRONG, and gettin' STRONGER..." - George W. Bush

Jobless rate higher for U.S.-born than immigrants
Unemployment rate for foreign-born workers fell below 5% last year, below the rate for native-born workers for the first time.
By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com senior writer
April 6, 2006: 10:25 AM EDT

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/05/news/economy/jobs_immigrants/index.htm?cnn=yes

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The unemployment rate for immigrants working in the United States fell below the rate for U.S.-born workers for the first time since the Labor Department started tracking those numbers a decade ago.

Numbers from the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics show that unemployment for native-born workers fell to 5.2 percent last year from 5.5 percent in 2004. But the unemployment rate for those who were born elsewhere sank to 4.6 percent last year from 5.5 percent the year before.

The strong home-building market, which lifted construction hiring, and a rebound in travel and hospitality were seen as among the factors helping immigrant workers, since those sectors employ a lot of foreign-born workers. The statistics suggest that when the job market is weak, foreign-born workers have a harder time finding work than those born in the United States. But during tightening job markets, employers turn more to workers born in other countries.

The bureau's numbers don't distinguish between those here legally and those here illegally. Congress is now debating immigration reform that includes proposals to allow some current illegal immigrants to get guest worker status, and another bill that would impose tough penalties on immigrants here illegally and those who employ them.

[MADem]

1. How DARE those US born bozos want a lifestyle better than their parents???

The jobs ARE there, if you can stomach saying "Want fries with that?" all day, or feeling the back strain from pushing a broom, loading a truck, making beds all day, and so forth! And of course, if you need housing, hell, you can find something TOTALLY affordable in a distressed neighborhood--just make sure the kids' beds are in an interior room, away from the street and the odd stray bullet!!

[Ron Green]

2. People usually come to the US to work, but not everyone is BORN to work.