Alabama Can't Find Anyone to Fill Illegal Immigrants' Old Jobs

[2501]

Alabama agriculture officials are stumped over how to keep farms operating now that the state's draconian new immigration law chased away all of the low paid (however illegal) labor. The latest idea: Hire prisoners. The Associate Press reports:

The nursery and landscape industry will need as many as 4,000 workers in southern counties early in 2012 to get ready for the growing season, he said, and forestry and farming will require still more laborers. Unable to find legal residents to fill all the employment gaps, [Deputy commissioner with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Brett] Hall said the Agriculture Department is consulting with the Department of Corrections to determine whether prisoners could do some of the work.

But we thought America was experiencing an economic downturn, leaving many Americans out of work. A quick Google search reveals that Alabama is actually worse off than the rest of the country, with a 9.3 percent rate of unemployment. What's wrong with helping out on a farm? Is the pay crappy? That's actually not it:

Farmers have complained of a lack of field hands since parts of the law took effect in late September. Many have said legal residents aren't physically able or mentally tough enough to perform the work, and others won't do so because it doesn't pay enough.
Hall said the agriculture positions pay well above minimum wage, but many Americans find them too "physically taxing" to perform.

This sounds just like that comedic mockumentary that Hollywood dreamed up a few years ago, A Day Without a Mexican, except it's not that funny because it's actually happening. Also kind of sad.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/natio...ld-jobs/45829/

[PureBoxingCEO]

Very interesting. Did Alabama had a bunch of dirty rednecks to fill this jobs? Man, USA is depending heavily on foreign hands for sure.

[2501]

Very interesting. Did Alabama had a bunch of dirty rednecks to fill this jobs? Man, USA is depending heavily on foreign hands for sure.

one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but Alabamians feel the work is too hard and not worth the pay.

[BTL]

What's the farm work.. What do they grow if you know?

[jjbj2]

How much is the pay?

If they are making $20.00 an hour I might do it.

[-The Glove-]

I worked on a farm since I could walk. **** isn't for everyone but a job's a job. That's what's wrong with many Americans. They feel entitled to a cushy job where they don't have to break a sweat.

[F l i c k e r]

Nothing new. Same thing happened after the civil war for Alabama.


Anyways. This is what I've been saying about the whole 'create new jobs' bs that is coming out of candidates and the president's mouth.

We don't need new jobs. We need to stop thinking everyone can be white collar; lawyers, judges, wall street, doctors etc.

People want jobs but don't want to work the kind of jobs that become available. BLUE COLLAR WORK. Whether that's farming or factory jobs. It's jobs that need to be done.

[Spray_resistant]

one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but Alabamians feel the work is too hard and not worth the pay.

because it probably isn't worth it.

[gingeralbino]

would they give a visa to go to the US to work on a farm there?

Ive lived on one most of my life.

How much of a ****hole is alabama? is there anything to do there?



atm im deciding between going to canada or new zealand. never even concidered america until about 2 mins ago

[gingeralbino]

oh yeah, and what is the minamum wage, and what is "well above" that?