More ‘Can I Help You?’ Jobs Migrate From U.S. to India

Due to advances in global media technologies, the public and the private sectors in the United States are increasingly subcontracting services to countries with cheap labor. Contractors for the State of New Jersey arranged for telephone operators in Bombay, India to handle calls from the state's welfare recipients. These telephone operators are paid by a US-based company, owned by an expatriate Indian. Airlines and credit card companies are also sub-contracting work to skilled laborers in India. The migration of labor is bringing complex issues to the forefront of political debates about America's economic health. Critics of such outsourcing contend that it takes jobs away from US citizens, especially during periods of economic recession. Proponents argue that outsourcing saves money and increases profits. While the controversy continues, it is becoming clear that globalization has not just transformed how the US does business, but also how such sub-contracting is 'Americanizing' labor in countries like India. – YaleGlobal