The New Low-Skilled American Workforce

In the 1970s, California had the seventh most educated workforce in the nation. Now, the latest census data shows it is at the bottom of the list. What happened?

In the 1970’s, California had the seventh most educated workforce in the nation. Now, the latest census data shows it is at the bottom of the list. What happened? A new memorandum by the Center for Immigration Studies argues that this is the result of immigration. As the nation grapples with expanding immigration, California presents a preview of what might happen to the nation’s workforce.

California’s labor force has the highest percentage of high school dropouts in the nation: 16%. When only looking at immigrants, the percentage increases to 33%. The memorandum cites other worrying indicators, including 39% of immigrant households being recipients of welfare programs; a concern for California’s already stressed finances.

These figures are not surprising. If you allow—legally or illegally—immigrants who did not graduate high school, then the percentage of workers without high school degrees increases. The study also points out that 28% of 19 year-olds who are the children of immigrants don’t have high school degrees. The author of the paper suggested it might take three generations before this rate catches up with native-born levels.

Normally we would not actively encourage our workers to be uneducated. “There are not too many people who argue that increasing the share of your population who are high school drop outs is really good,” points out Steven A. Camarota, an author of the paper. Workers without high school degrees have a harder time in the labor market and strain public services. Some could characterize welcoming an increase in workers without degrees to a public policy that encouraged truancy in our schools to ensure we have an adequate domestic supply of gardeners and maids. There would likely be a public outcry to such a policy.

Some think that uneducated immigrants can help the economy. Tamar Jacoby, the President & CEO of ImmigrationWorks USA, contends that “It’s not true that the economy is only made up of jobs for educated workers.” Since jobs in industries such as construction don’t require a high school degree, she argues that uneducated labor can help employers, allowing them to expand their business. She also argues that even if a takes several generations for immigrant education rates to catch up with the native born, it is still progress in the right direction since they are getting more education then their parents.

While an uneducated component in a workforce mix can be helpful for some employers, it can also put strain on a state such as California. As the nation debates offering citizenship for illegals already here, it’s imperative to realistically assess the consequences of knowingly letting in workers who have not completed high school, and whose children may not either.

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