Introduction
General information and statistics on immigrants in the United States confirm their significant impacts on American economy and society .
Statistics on immigrants provide profile of immigrants in the workforce as well as challenges that allegedly keep them working in poverty .
Thesis statement: there are lack of employee benefits for immigrants in the United States through multiple barriers to employment, insufficient access to appropriate job training, poorer access to health care and low wages.
Multiple barriers to Employment
There are multiple barriers to employment that immigrants face, including “lack of English proficiency, limited skills, low levels of education, and poor understanding of American cultural and workplace norms (which) restrict their access to good jobs” .
Newly arrived immigrants with poor proficiency in English find it challenging to enter the American workforce;
Immigrants need to be trained in using sophisticated tools and updated technological equipment and applications;
Some immigrants need further advanced studies to practice their craft (such as those who completed degrees in the healthcare field in their respective countries).
Insufficient Access to Appropriate Job Training
The lack of familiarity to sources of training and development programs make job training and placement programs inaccessible and inappropriate to meet the needs of immigrants .
Poor Access to Healthcare
Immigrants were reported to encounter legal barriers to healthcare: “insurance coverage through Medicaid is not available to immigrants who have been resident in the U.S for less than five years” .
Low Wages
Immigrants were reported to willing to work for lesser income or compensation ;
Increases the supply of labor which impacts wages ;
Immigrants do not complaint despite low wages or inaccessibility to other benefits .
Conclusion
Evidences confirm that there are lack of employee benefits for immigrants in the United States through multiple barriers to employment, insufficient access to appropriate job training, poorer access to health care and low wages.
Concluding remarks recommending changes that would address lack of employee benefits for immigrants through policy changes in the labor laws.
Works Cited
Camarota, S. A. "The Impact of Immigration on the American Workforce." 16 November 2005. Center for Immigration Studies. <http://cis.org/node/553>.
Fitz, M., P. E. Wolgin and P. Oakford. "Immigrants Are Makers, Not Takers." 8 February 2013. Center for American Progress. <https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2013/02/08/52377/immigrants-are-makers-not-takers/>.
Mandal, A. "Disparities in Access to Health Care." 6 August 2014. News Medical. <http://www.news-medical.net/health/Disparities-in-Access-to-Health-Care.aspx>.
Moran, T. and D. Petsod. "Newcomers in the American Workplace: Improving Employment Outcomes for Low-Wage Immigrants and Refugees." 2003. Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. <https://www.gcir.org/publications/gcirpubs/newcomers>.
