Immigration reform may threaten some U.S. businesses
With illegal immigrants making up 5% of the work force, certain industries could get hit harder than others if immigration reform succeeds.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The raging debate among lawmakers over immigration reform may be far from over, but one thing is clear: Some industries may have a lot more to lose than others. A recent study published by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that almost 5 percent of workers, or 7.2 million people in the United States, are illegal immigrants, and that those workers account for a large percentage of certain occupations. Undocumented workers, for example, make up 24 percent of farm workers within the United States, and represent 14 percent of the workers in the construction industry, according to the study While a significant portion of unauthorized workers hold jobs within the cleaning and food preparation business, it is only within the leisure, hospitality and construction industries that illegal immigrants significantly outnumber the number of native born workers. Currently, both the House and the Senate are offering their own legislative solution for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already living in the United States. _____________ Missed out on the rest of the day's headlines? Click here. |
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