With each weekly set of readings, my eyes open a little wider to the big picture of immigration. Instead of just regarding immigration for its face value, I am beginning to piece together all the reasons behind their flights from their homeland with their actions once they arrive in America. This week was no different as I became more aware of the current work situation for incoming immigrants in the last two great waves of immigration. My general perception of the work an immigrant does has since changed significantly, as I continue to respect the daunting process of assimilation even more.
Waiting for the first great wave of immigrants at the turn of the 20th century was an ‘insatiable’ demand for labor as a byproduct of the industrial expansion that was happening in New York. Jews and Italians swarmed into these positions, either hoping it was a start to something better in their new lives as Americans or hoping it would be sufficient to accumulate enough wealth to return home and improve their living conditions from before the migration. Although these immigrants were able to secure work almost immediately in some form or another (for Jews it was likely to be in the garment industry, whereas many Italians took up work in construction and putting together the subway system) working conditions were generally horrible. Low wages and the lack of strong unions that could protect workers made immigrant lifestyles seem unbearable to the outsider like myself. Every immigrant had to scrap to get by, which was evident with the work single daughters had to endure to contribute to the family’s weekly earnings. I thought it was interesting that marriage became something to look forward to for these young women as an early retirement from the long hours of work they had to do.
Unfortunately, harsh conditions still exist in the workplace. We often turn away from it and like to think that it is not as bad as it has been in the past, but immigrants are still facing lower wages and occupational status when compared to other groups. This most recent influx of immigrants, however, is bringing in migrants of a variety of educational and professional levels. New York’s economy is no longer industrial and has since become more of a white-collar city. The variety in today’s immigrant population allows some immigrants who are of higher experience and status to jump right in to the mainstream economy with high-level positions.
At the bottom of the occupational ladder there exists another difference from the previous wave, stiff competition with lower-tier native-born blacks and hispanics. Less experienced and educated immigrants are moving in to the lower sector of the workplace and in doing so presenting these native groups with direct competition. Furthermore, employers are becoming more favorable of hiring these immigrant laborers for a number of reasons, but mainly because they will work for less money without any fuss. Then once these immigrant laborers are employed they recommend people of their own for positions that open up as part of their extensive kin networks. This further bars native born blacks and hispanics from these positions. Without these jobs and chances at earning some type of wages, will a possible ripple effect be ghettos throughout the city expanding and getting worse?
