Gang of Eight Push for More Immigration despite Bleak Employment

Eight U.S. senators, collectively known as the Gang of Eight (Gof8), have outlined an immigration plan that allows illegal immigrants to remain in the country and increases legal immigration in the future. One of their chief justifications for allowing illegal immigrants to remain in their jobs, and for increasing immigration, is that the country has a shortage of workers. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the Go8's leaders, has made it clear that he believes there is "a shortage of labor" in the country. Moreover, as part the gang's efforts, labor and business leaders are negotiating the details of a new program to bring in more immigrant workers to fill "lesser-skilled" jobs.

However, both nationally and in the states represented by the Gof8, unemployment and non-work is very high among American citizens, especially less-educated citizens (those with no more than a high school education). The less-educated are the most likely to compete with illegal immigrants.

• In the seven states represented by the Gang of Eight, the unemployment rate for U.S. citizens with no more than a high school education averaged 12.6 percent in 2012. This compares to an average of 10.2 percent across the other 43 states.
   
• The broader measure of unemployment (referred to as U-6), which includes those who want to work but have not looked recently, shows unemployment averaged 21.7 percent for less-educated citizens in the Gof8 states for 2012. This is even higher than the 18.3 percent average in the other 43 states.
   
• In the Gof8 states, U-6 unemployment was among the highest in the country for less-educated citizens in 2012:
  24.4 percent in Arizona, fourth-highest in the country
  22.1 percent in South Carolina, eighth-highest in the country
  22.0 percent in Illinois, ninth-highest in the country
  21.9 percent in New Jersey, 11th-highest in the country
  20.6 percent in Florida, 15th-highest in the country
  20.5 percent in New York, 18th-highest in the country
  20.1 percent in Colorado, 19th-highest in the country
   
• Looking at all less-educated citizens (ages 18 to 65) shows 41.8 percent did not have a job in 2012 in the Gof8 states compared to an average of 37.9 percent in the other 43 states. This includes the unemployed and those entirely out of the labor market.
   
• In total there were 6.5 million less-educated citizens (age 18 to 65) not working in 2012 in the Gof8 states. Nationally 27.7 million less-educated citizens were not working.