[Alexunda]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...few-employers/

With Alabama's new immigration law scaring off many illegal migrant workers, the state is offering job placement for legal residents wanting to work in the hard-hit agriculture industry -- it seems, however, that local farmers think the work may be too hard for most Americans.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced this month the launch of the initiative "Work Alabama," which would expand on existing services to connect job seekers with current openings on farms and respond to employers' complaints about the loss of mostly Hispanic workers who have fled.

"The industries in our state that provide thousands of manual-labor jobs are a foundational part of Alabama's economy," Bentley said at the time. "I want these employers to know that we are here to help them while they provide much-needed jobs to Alabamians who are looking for work."

But as of Wednesday, while 335 people have signed up for seasonal agricultural jobs, only three employers have listed 48 openings -- most of which don't start until January, state officials told FoxNews.com.

Alabama's unemployment rate last month was 9.8 percent, higher than the national average of 9.1 percent. But some farmers have complained that Americans are unwilling or unable to do the work that migrant workers did.

Potato farmer Kevin Smith told The Associated Press that the Americans he hired show up late, work slower and are ready to call it quits after a day on the job or sooner.

"I've had people calling me wanting to work," Smith said. "I haven't turned any of them down, but they're not any good. It’s hard work, they just don’t work like the Hispanics with experience."

I mean the potato farmer isn't wrong. A lot of Americans think that kind of work is beneath them - and that's why the illegal immigrants took the jobs. THey didn't care as long as they got paid. But that kind of work is no picnic. I'm from the Midwest and anyone from the states with corn will know about detasseling. Basically you go through certain rows, pull out the tassels and it makes certain hybrids of corn. I did that in high school in the summer and it wasn't fun at all. I wanted to quit all the time and it was only for two weeks. I hate to imagine growing up on a farm like my dad did.

If I was desperate for a job - I'd do what I can take until it got me back on my feet.

[RorieSorNearop]

Its part of the epidemic of entitlement in this country. We're all told as we grow up that we can each be astronauts if we try hard enough, when its just not true of some people.

Honestly, there are people who should be happy to aspire for the job of cleaning toilets in a prison...cause that's the best they could do.

[jackie Obrian]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...few-employers/

With Alabama's new immigration law scaring off many illegal migrant workers, the state is offering job placement for legal residents wanting to work in the hard-hit agriculture industry -- it seems, however, that local farmers think the work may be too hard for most Americans.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced this month the launch of the initiative "Work Alabama," which would expand on existing services to connect job seekers with current openings on farms and respond to employers' complaints about the loss of mostly Hispanic workers who have fled.

"The industries in our state that provide thousands of manual-labor jobs are a foundational part of Alabama's economy," Bentley said at the time. "I want these employers to know that we are here to help them while they provide much-needed jobs to Alabamians who are looking for work."

But as of Wednesday, while 335 people have signed up for seasonal agricultural jobs, only three employers have listed 48 openings -- most of which don't start until January, state officials told FoxNews.com.

Alabama's unemployment rate last month was 9.8 percent, higher than the national average of 9.1 percent. But some farmers have complained that Americans are unwilling or unable to do the work that migrant workers did.

Potato farmer Kevin Smith told The Associated Press that the Americans he hired show up late, work slower and are ready to call it quits after a day on the job or sooner.

"I've had people calling me wanting to work," Smith said. "I haven't turned any of them down, but they're not any good. It’s hard work, they just don’t work like the Hispanics with experience."

I mean the potato farmer isn't wrong. A lot of Americans think that kind of work is beneath them - and that's why the illegal immigrants took the jobs. THey didn't care as long as they got paid. But that kind of work is no picnic. I'm from the Midwest and anyone from the states with corn will know about detasseling. Basically you go through certain rows, pull out the tassels and it makes certain hybrids of corn. I did that in high school in the summer and it wasn't fun at all. I wanted to quit all the time and it was only for two weeks. I hate to imagine growing up on a farm like my dad did.

If I was desperate for a job - I'd do what I can take until it got me back on my feet.

These jobs are hard work. It's not just that people might be "unwilling" to do it...but they aren't in the kind of shape to do it. It's not that illegal immigrants are just harder working or whatever...but they've been doing this work for a long time and are much better at it.

Most of them couldn't do my job...not because they are lazy...but it's taken years of experience and study to learn to do this.

I don't care how hungry or humble you are...if your employer wanted you to run a 2:30 marathon to get paid...you'd probably quit that job after one day....because you wouldn't be able to do it and make a decent wage.

Sure, I'd give it a try to work in those fields for a job...but, I probably wouldn't be able to move on the second day.

[Serttyfd]

ha ha they took our jawbs!!!

[tuszit]

Running a sub 3 hour marathon is not even close to doing hard manual labor.

After the Marines I worked a pretty sedentary desk job for about a year. I got laid off.

I got a job busting my ass installing comms equipment on military trucks. It was fucking hard work.

But my kid had to eat so I kept working.

People in America that want money but don't want to work hard, don't really want money.

If the only way I could feed my kid was to run a 2:30 marathon, you could bet your ass I would be running my heart out everyday trying.

[Morageort]

Running a sub 3 hour marathon is not even close to doing hard manual labor.

After the Marines I worked a pretty sedentary desk job for about a year. I got laid off.

I got a job busting my ass installing comms equipment on military trucks. It was fucking hard work.

But my kid had to eat so I kept working.

People in America that want money but don't want to work hard, don't really want money.

If the only way I could feed my kid was to run a 2:30 marathon, you could bet your ass I would be running my heart out everyday trying.

Maybe so...but I guess the whole idea that illegals are taking all our jobs doesn't quite hold up anymore.

Your solution appears to be though...that we need to let some children starve so people will take these jobs

[ansarigf]

These jobs are hard work. It's not just that people might be "unwilling" to do it...but they aren't in the kind of shape to do it. It's not that illegal immigrants are just harder working or whatever...but they've been doing this work for a long time and are much better at it.

Most of them couldn't do my job...not because they are lazy...but it's taken years of experience and study to learn to do this.

I don't care how hungry or humble you are...if your employer wanted you to run a 2:30 marathon to get paid...you'd probably quit that job after one day....because you wouldn't be able to do it and make a decent wage.

Sure, I'd give it a try to work in those fields for a job...but, I probably wouldn't be able to move on the second day.

I wasn't used to going out and working in corn fields but I did that every summer. Yeah I was tired, sore, dirty but I got used to it (but I did not like the "farmer's tan" I would end up with). I wasn't used to doing PT every day before the Army but I got used to it, built up and got better at it.

If I had a family and needed to feed them, I'll do what I have to in order to get that done.

[YonkFiorc]

If I had a family and needed to feed them, I'll do what I have to in order to get that done.

Agree...I don't know anyone that wouldn't.

Apparently not enough children are going hungry to get US citizens to work in those fields though...cuz the crops are rotting.

[Fgunehjf]

Agree...I don't know anyone that wouldn't.

Apparently not enough children are going hungry to get US citizens to work in those fields though...cuz the crops are rotting.

To be fair I think it's a little more complex in many circumstances. I'd wager the amount of jobless and homeless is probably more than marginally higher in heavy urban areas and significantly less prevalent near the areas where a lot of farming jobs are available (and maybe not entirely well-advertised). I don't imagine they all have the means to pick up and move to where all these jobs are nor probably even have them in their sights as their focus is probably much more localized. Maybe someone can get a good non-profit organization going charged with finding people who are under-employed who may be interested in that type of work but without a clear means to get to where the work is. Just brainstorming in text mainly.

[infarrelisam]

To be fair I think it's a little more complex in many circumstances. I'd wager the amount of jobless and homeless is probably more than marginally higher in heavy urban areas and significantly less prevalent near the areas where a lot of farming jobs are available (and maybe not entirely well-advertised). I don't imagine they all have the means to pick up and move to where all these jobs are nor probably even have them in their sights as their focus is probably much more localized. Maybe someone can get a good non-profit organization going charged with finding people who are under-employed who may be interested in that type of work but without a clear means to get to where the work is. Just brainstorming in text mainly.

Well, if I was unemployed and homeless...I'd be hitchhiking to Williston, ND.

[dafodilkemmy]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...few-employers/

With Alabama's new immigration law scaring off many illegal migrant workers, the state is offering job placement for legal residents wanting to work in the hard-hit agriculture industry -- it seems, however, that local farmers think the work may be too hard for most Americans.

Gov. Robert Bentley announced this month the launch of the initiative "Work Alabama," which would expand on existing services to connect job seekers with current openings on farms and respond to employers' complaints about the loss of mostly Hispanic workers who have fled.

"The industries in our state that provide thousands of manual-labor jobs are a foundational part of Alabama's economy," Bentley said at the time. "I want these employers to know that we are here to help them while they provide much-needed jobs to Alabamians who are looking for work."

But as of Wednesday, while 335 people have signed up for seasonal agricultural jobs, only three employers have listed 48 openings -- most of which don't start until January, state officials told FoxNews.com.

Alabama's unemployment rate last month was 9.8 percent, higher than the national average of 9.1 percent. But some farmers have complained that Americans are unwilling or unable to do the work that migrant workers did.

Potato farmer Kevin Smith told The Associated Press that the Americans he hired show up late, work slower and are ready to call it quits after a day on the job or sooner.

"I've had people calling me wanting to work," Smith said. "I haven't turned any of them down, but they're not any good. It’s hard work, they just don’t work like the Hispanics with experience."

I mean the potato farmer isn't wrong. A lot of Americans think that kind of work is beneath them - and that's why the illegal immigrants took the jobs. THey didn't care as long as they got paid. But that kind of work is no picnic. I'm from the Midwest and anyone from the states with corn will know about detasseling. Basically you go through certain rows, pull out the tassels and it makes certain hybrids of corn. I did that in high school in the summer and it wasn't fun at all. I wanted to quit all the time and it was only for two weeks. I hate to imagine growing up on a farm like my dad did.

If I was desperate for a job - I'd do what I can take until it got me back on my feet.

African Americans use those jobs as a Bogey Man when we tell our kids "If you don't do well in school, if you slack off, that is the kind of work you will be forced to do. We even let them do it for a Summer to reinforce the facts. That scare works wonders, and the kids get good grades!

My sainted Wife did that kind of work as her first Summer job as a kid, got the point, and ended up doing Medical Billing as her career some 40 years ago. Her ability to type at 100 Words Per Minute enhanced her earning power.

[bonyclayd]

What! You mean to tell me that those same lazy ass people who want the borders secured so they can get a job, dont actually want the jobs. Of course not, it's much easier to sit on their duff and collect unemployment and other social benefits without lifting a finger. I dont get it. Next they'll be complaining about the cost of produce going up, but still dont want the migrant workers in their state. Good job! You got rid of the migrants, raised the price of produce, put some family farms on the edge of shutting down, and still get to collect your entiltlements! All without lifting a finger, except to get another hoho, light a cigerette, and change the channel on the babysitter. At least those workers were contributing to society by spending that hard earned money on the local economy instead of draining it.

[RilmAlime67]

What do these farm jobs pay? The reason I ask is, You get what you pay for.

[Unlopssesuj]

What do these farm jobs pay? The reason I ask is, You get what you pay for.

Sometimes true, but I think the bigger question is "what are the people living in a situation of dire need willing to accept?" Unless the pay is insufficient to make ends meet (or they're coming out a little ahead on food stamps and welfare) one would think a person would be happy to accept any employment they're qualified to do.