Jobs are the lifeblood for national economies and family budgets. The search for economic opportunity often drives people to move around the globe. The most educated and highly skilled workers are in demand, and immigration policies often reflect that priority. Less skilled would-be immigrants, however, are often subject to tighter restrictions – even in nations where native citizens refuse to take on harvesting, construction, cleaning or other difficult tasks. Advanced technology reduces the need for labor; employers also rely on outsourcing, contract workers and the internet for digital work, including tax preparation, X-ray analysis or graphic design. Nations fiercely compete for jobs while multinational corporations reduce labor costs to increase profits.

Bush's Proposal for Immigration Reform Misses the Point

Reducing income gap should be the goal of Washington's Mexico policy
Andres Oppenheimer
January 8, 2004

At Conference, Fox Backs Bush's Guest-Worker Plan

But Washington's effort to promote Free Trade Agreement of the Americas finds little support from region's leaders
Elisabeth Bumiller
January 13, 2004

Impatient Jobs

American IT giants are all for outsourcing. But policy, in a poll year, is a hurdle.
Seema Sirohi
January 20, 2004

A Road That Death Often Travels

Every year, thousands of immigrants find their path to better work opportunities blocked by the world’s largest desert.
Norimitsu Onishi
September 18, 2002

Why Not Let Them Work?

Supporters say it would make sense to regularize the status of illegal immigrants in Germany
Mechthild Küpper
January 9, 2004