--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If cheap immigrant labor is made…" description: "\"If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/501/jan-c-ting-24884_american_if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavail_22906.jpg" --- # If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers… ![“If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation, which will create a smaller number of skilled jobs for Americans.” quote by Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/501/jan-c-ting-24884_american_if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavail_22906.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/501/jan-c-ting-24884_american_if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavail_22906.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/501/jan-c-ting-24884_american_if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavail_22906.jpg) > “If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation, which will create a smaller number of skilled jobs for Americans.” [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When low-cost immigrant labor disappears, firms face higher labor costs and may turn to automation, leading to fewer low-wage jobs but potentially more skilled positions for domestic workers. **In simple terms:** Labor market shifts from cheap labor to automation. Key Takeaway Automation reshapes job composition. Themes Labor economics Automation Immigration policy Skill demand Wage dynamics Mood Analytical Cautious Optimistic Type Analytical Policy When to use this quote - Manufacturing plants - Agricultural farms - Service industry - Tech firms - Government policy analysis Key Concepts Labor supply Technology adoption Skill premium Practical Applications - Policy design for workforce retraining - Strategic planning for automation investment Questions to Reflect On - How can economies balance automation with inclusive job growth? - What policies can mitigate skill gaps from rapid tech adoption? A Different Perspective Automation may also displace skilled workers, not just low-wage labor, creating broader employment challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Automation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation/) [Cheap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Employers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employers/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Hire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire/) [Hire Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire-americans-402816/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Immigrant Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant-labor-402815/) [Immigrant workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant-workers-89403/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Jobs Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs-americans-402818/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number/) [Replace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/replace/) [Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skilled/) [Smaller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smaller/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wage/) [Wage Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wage-immigrant-402817/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [“The Capitalist Class knows that what brings on the increased supply is not immigration so much, but the improved and ever improving machinery, held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danie-deleon/the-capitalist-class-knows-that-what-brings-on-the-increased-supply/) [Danie DeLeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danie-deleon/) > [No country has been more invigorated by immigrant culture, more rewarded by immigrant labor and immigrant ideas than America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-veasey/no-country-has-been-more-invigorated-by-immigrant-culture-more/) [Marc Veasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-veasey/) > [The immigration system is broken and it needs to be fixed. And it needs to be fixed comprehensively, because this country depends on immigrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/the-immigration-system-is-broken-and-it-needs-to-be-fixed-and-it/) [Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/) > [“Less apparent at the time, but in many ways more problematic, were deep-seated structural developments in the work force. By the late 1960s millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/less-apparent-at-the-time-but-in-many-ways-more-problematic-were-deep/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [Hard-working immigrant workers in this country deserve a real path to citizenship as a part of comprehensive immigration reform...We will continue to work with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/hard-working-immigrant-workers-in-this-country-deserve-a-real-path-to/) [John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/) > [If you got up this morning and had fruits for breakfast, it was probably picked by the bent back of an immigrant worker. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-menendez/if-you-got-up-this-morning-and-had-fruits-for-breakfast-it-was/) [Bob Menendez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-menendez/) > [As I wrote Working toward Whiteness, I came to see one historic task on the New Deal - and one in which it succeeded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-roediger/as-i-wrote-working-toward-whiteness-i-came-to-see-one-historic-task/) [David Roediger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-roediger/) > [Immigrant workers have become essential to the U.S. workforce, contributing across sectors and playing a noteworthy role in our country's economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-suozzi/immigrant-workers-have-become-essential-to-the-u-s-workforce/) [Tom Suozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-suozzi/) > [Stop illegal immigration. Stop these trade deals that are taking jobs from Americans. Build an economy that works for the people at the bottom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/stop-illegal-immigration-stop-these-trade-deals-that-are-taking-jobs/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [I concluded that the trade agreements weren't working as promised, and was depreciating the wages and the manufacturing base, and the jobs of Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-concluded-that-the-trade-agreements-weren-t-working-as-promised-and/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [There are jobs Americans arent doing. ... If youve got a chicken factory, a chicken-plucking factory, or whatever you call them, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-are-jobs-americans-arent-doing-if-youve-got-a-chicken-factory-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [How do we create jobs for so many Americans who are feeling pushed out, not just left out, pushed out of the modern economy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/how-do-we-create-jobs-for-so-many-americans-who-are-feeling-pushed/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“President Obama keeps telling us that he is “creating jobs.” But more and more Americans have no jobs. The unemployment rate has declined slightly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/president-obama-keeps-telling-us-that-he-is-creating-jobs-but-more/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [We need people from all around the world. We need entrepreneurs, we need students that we're educating in our schools that we then throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-need-people-from-all-around-the-world-we-need-entrepreneurs-we/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [The jobs Americans don't want are the ones the migrants fill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/the-jobs-americans-don-t-want-are-the-ones-the-migrants-fill/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) ## More by Jan C. Ting > [There is no quick fix for illegal immigration. But only when we achieve better control of our borders and better respect for our immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/there-is-no-quick-fix-for-illegal-immigration-but-only-when-we/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Besides taking jobs from American workers, illegal immigration creates huge economic burdens on our health care system, our education system, our criminal justice system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/besides-taking-jobs-from-american-workers-illegal-immigration-creates/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [If we're willing to accept unlimited immigration in order to keep wages low and corporate profits high, we should just say so and stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/if-we-re-willing-to-accept-unlimited-immigration-in-order-to-keep/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [The DREAM Act was intended to benefit illegal immigrants who were brought here as children, the most sympathetic subset among our large illegal immigrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/the-dream-act-was-intended-to-benefit-illegal-immigrants-who-were/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [ I've always said that the 1986 \[Immigration Reform and Control\] Act had a fourth leg \[in addition to law enforcement, increased immigration and amnesty\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/i-ve-always-said-that-the-1986-immigration-reform-and-control-act-had/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [All Americans are either immigrants or descendants of ancestors who came from somewhere else, including Native Americans. We should all respect and admire immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/all-americans-are-either-immigrants-or-descendants-of-ancestors-who/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [The goal of immigration policy should be what is in the best interests of the American people as a whole. I would recommend limiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/the-goal-of-immigration-policy-should-be-what-is-in-the-best/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [The U.S. immigration system is the most generous in the world, providing each year more green cards for legal permanent residence with a clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/the-u-s-immigration-system-is-the-most-generous-in-the-world/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [I respect those who openly advocate for unlimited immigration to the United States. Open borders is an intellectually coherent, defensible position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/i-respect-those-who-openly-advocate-for-unlimited-immigration-to-the/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Our immigration system is not broken. We don't need, and Congress shouldn't enact, amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/our-immigration-system-is-not-broken-we-don-t-need-and-congress/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Illegal immigrants make a rational choice when they decide to violate our immigration laws. They weigh the costs, including the risks of getting caught,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/illegal-immigrants-make-a-rational-choice-when-they-decide-to-violate/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [I personally believe that a democratic society is morally entitled to set and enforce a limit on the number of new immigrants admitted each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/i-personally-believe-that-a-democratic-society-is-morally-entitled-to/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [We should favor young immigrants with many years of work ahead of them. We should favor immigrants who have demonstrated an ability to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/we-should-favor-young-immigrants-with-many-years-of-work-ahead-of/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Both my parents were immigrants, as were many of their friends, the parents of the children with whom I grew up. Of course I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/both-my-parents-were-immigrants-as-were-many-of-their-friends-the/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Prolonged unemployment is a tragedy of broken lives, broken families, foreclosed homes, and life without health insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/prolonged-unemployment-is-a-tragedy-of-broken-lives-broken-families/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) [Explore all 23 Jan C. Ting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. 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