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.

Managing Globalization: Economies Have a Stake in Where Companies Find Employees

A company choosing immigration over outsourcing can boost a domestic economy
Daniel Altman
June 26, 2006

US Wages Face Glut of Pressures

Expect US wages to continue falling, as China and India thunder into the global economy
David Wessel
June 26, 2006

Don't Fear the Future

While many industrialized countries fear a globalized economy, they neglect to realize its benefits
Gordon Brown
June 19, 2006

Congress May Yet Move on Immigration

Immigration reform, while stalled, is not yet dead
Gail Russell Chaddock
June 28, 2006

Diaspora – Selective Immigration Policies and the Brain Drain

A lack of skilled labor in developing countries hampers political and economic security
Bathseba H. Belai
June 19, 2006