If you limit the number of foreign workers in the United States, you’ll create more jobs for Americans right? Well maybe, but maybe not. Since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has made illegal immigration a signature policy. News of individuals being rounded up and deported have dominated headlines in recent months, but some of the raids have raised the question of whether the United Sates actually needs some of those workers, especially those with unique skill sets, in order to create more jobs for Americans. One example of the clash between immigration policy and employment goals was the recent raid on a new Hyundai facility in Georgia where hundreds of South Korean workers were rounded up as part of the administration’s effort to control illegal immigration. The raid was notable due to its size, because it targeted highly skilled workers, and because it highlighted a critical issue for the U.S. workforce: the South Koreans were there because America doesn’t have enough workers with the specialized skills needed to build out the plant.  

As it turns out, those South Korean workers, who, according to the government had overstayed their visas, are highly skilled battery engineers. They possess unique skills essential for building the factory and will be responsible for training American workers. In other words, without the South Korean engineers, Hyundai would be unable to build the factory. Without the factory, Georgia would lose the hundreds of jobs that were to be created thanks to the investment by Hyundai. In this situation, foreign workers play an important role in the development of new U.S. jobs, both those directly associated with the factory itself, and those created as spillovers from the factory. What’s the takeaway? Well, it’s probably a reminder that we live in a global economy. The United States relies on foreign countries and foreign countries rely on the United States.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the challenges associated with immigration policy, particularly regarding the demand for workers with specialized skill sets? According to the Trump administration, the engineers at the Hyundai plant were in the United States illegally. Should the U.S. consider easing entry requirements for certain workers while maintaining restrictions for others?
  2. What economic implications does the raid at the Hyundai plant in Georgia reveal about the future of the American workforce? Is the United States effectively investing in and fostering a workforce with the skills needed to drive economic growth and competitiveness?