Study: Immigrants raise wages of most natives

A study from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) concluded that immigrants do not compete with a majority of the jobs held by people that already live in the U.S. By looking at census data, PPIC researchers concluded that low-skilled immigrants push better-qualified people into jobs that are more productive and are higher paying. According to the study (PDF document):

"These results should certainly be taken into account by policy-makers as they consider immigration reform. The findings would seem to defuse one of the most inflammatory issues for those who advocate measures aimed at `protecting the livelihood of American citizens.'"

Not all the news in the PPIC’s report is so positive, however; immigrants who came to the U.S. 15 years ago and before suffered wage declines since they were competing with newer generations of immigrants.

Links- InsideBayArea.com, Kansas City Star, Public Policy Institute of California, Contras Costa Times

Image- WCCO