We’ve often wondered at this site who on earth will do the work when the illegals are run out of town. Now someone with real numbers mentions the same thing.
Using Mr. Passel’s figures, it seems likely that there are about eight million illegal immigrants with jobs right now. That is quite a bit more than the roughly 6.5 million unemployed people counted by the Census Bureau (some of whom might actually be illegal immigrants). Even if all illegal immigrants were deported overnight — the current bill would instead offer them a path to legal status — the rest of the work force might not be able to fill their jobs.
Indeed, the presence of illegal immigrants may actually be increasing overall employment, and at little cost to wages, suggested Robert J. LaLonde, a professor of public policy at the University of Chicago. He said that these immigrants increase the overall supply of labor. If demand remains the same, their presence raises the number of jobs in the economy but lowers wages for everyone. But Professor LaLonde said that demand for labor is likely to increase, too, as investment money follows immigrant workers into the country.
Professor LaLonde added that the presence of illegal immigrants in some service jobs makes it easier for Americans to participate in the labor force. The immigrants act as complements to higher-wage workers, who can then participate in greater numbers and become more productive.
By the way, Daniel Altman, the author of the piece also has a new book out: Connected: 24 Hours in the Global Economy