The United States Needs More Migrant Labor (Not Less)

 From The Washington Post:

The plentiful supply of immigrants is one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has outperformed that of its peers in the affluent world since the eve of the pandemic, accounting for the entire growth of the labor force. Without immigrants, growth would have been slower and inflation higher. . .

The labor market is extremely tight around the country. In November, there were 9.5 million job openings but only 6.5 million unemployed workers, according to the latest data from the Labor Department. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is screaming about a national labor shortage. . . .

Immigrants already fill all sorts of jobs across the economy. Foreign-born workers took 30 percent of construction jobs in 2023. Sectors such as transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services also employ a big share of immigrants. These industries need workers: Their job opening rates by the end of last year were around or above the national average. . . .

Helping ease migrant workers into the labor force might seem like a pointless suggestion given Republican unwillingness to contemplate anything that might help alleviate the pressure at the southern border. But granting them quick legal authorization to work and offering them a ticket to one of the many hot labor markets in both red and blue states would offer a win for migrants, employers and the American economy.