Trump keeps touting bringing back jobs, building more industries.
The fact is we don’t need jobs, we have a labor shortage.
Deporting working illegal immigrants makes the situations worse in some industries like construction, agriculture and services.
Many Americans including our President apparently are not aware of this or simply choose to ignore it, but nevertheless IT’S THE TRUTH.
Factors Contributing to the Shortage:
Retirements: A large number of Baby Boomers are retiring, reducing the workforce.
Low Birth Rates: Lower birth rates mean a smaller pool of potential workers in the future.
Low Labor Force Participation: The labor force participation rate is historically low, meaning fewer people are working or actively seeking work.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
If we didn’t have immigrants, who would do those low-skilled jobs. Americans would rather not participate in the work force than clean rooms, do roofing, or work on a farm. We need a guest worker program, but limit participation to 2 out of 3 years so we don’t end up like Germany with permanent guests.
LikeLike
I don’t know that we have a shortage of workers. The low participation rate in the workforce is evidence that we have a lot on the sidelines. The low birth rate is what it is and the high number of abortions in the past 50 years is a topic also. If you cut the over abundance of fast food joints down to size and encourage the non participating bunch sitting on the sidelines, you could put a decent work crew together. What we don’t need are the people who can’t make it elsewhere showing up here.
Creating some decent jobs for people is what we need. I don’t agree with the tariff business in place now but we could use more skilled jobs and I think the American workforce would join in.
LikeLike
Al Lindquist
some good point James–jobs at Dairy Queen and In & Out Burger are not what we are talking about–high paid jobs–those requiring skill– the laborers next door today do a spring cleaning for neighbors were Hispanics–great folks but low skill low pay job–we want high skill–high pay
LikeLike
The Labor Force participation rate was in the 50%- 60% range post WWII and didn’t get to today’s 62.5% until September 1977 – most of that was women entering the workforce. Labor force participation maxed out prior to the pandemic, February 2020, at 67.2%. A significant percentage of that highpoint was among Baby Boomers who, like me, and unlike the Greatest Generation and the Silent Generation, remained in the workforce after reaching traditional retirement ages.
We do have a shortage of skilled workers. And, when you look at the education report card, we are not doing a good job – not only is Johnny unable to read and write, he can’t do simple math – let alone show aptitude for today’s skilled manufacturing positions.
And, importantly, last I heard, the President suggests that tariffs might trigger as many as 10MM re-shored manufacturing jobs. Not at all likely, as today, the manufacturing sector is only 12.7MM jobs, and, 10MM new jobs would be more productive than the existing 12.7 jobs due to new plant and equipment.
Do you know anyone who thinks America will double its manufacturing output as a result of tariffs? I sure don’t.
Trump may know real estate in New York, but, …
LikeLike
Jack-
I agree that we can’t put 10-12 million folks into a skilled or even semi skilled job without getting some help from immigrants (not the open border crowd) who come in as a vetted group that can do more than dig post holes. They are out there because someone is manufacturing everything we have today. We won’t need that many because this is Trumps pipe dream and it will play out before we get to autarky.
LikeLike
After clearing out the known criminal element, the issue of work visas to responsible illegals might solve this shortage and hopefully begin to unite our country. Make a positive difference in someone’s life today. Bill Mitchell
LikeLike