The Quote Below—More Misinformation from the Media
“The next time you’re walking into a restaurant or grocery store, or pretty much any business, pause to look at the door. Near the sign about wearing a face mask, you’ll probably see a “help wanted” sign.
“They’re everywhere.
“Iowa businesses desperately need workers.
“Most Iowans already are working. We just need more Iowans.
“What happens when workers can’t be found? . . .
“Unfortunately, Republicans controlling the Iowa Legislature and governor’s office don’t seem too interested in that. Instead, they have perfected the art of alienating entire groups of people. . . .
“Their policies and rhetoric on immigrants discourage newcomers from locating here, even though we need foreign-born residents to fill jobs in health care, child care, agriculture, hospitality and other sectors.
“Republicans also refuse to make Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family. They won’t raise the minimum wage. . . .
“And the pandemic has underscored a new factor about the modern workforce that could discourage workers from moving here: the capability to work remotely. Skilled workers can land a great job in Iowa but choose to live where there are mountains, oceans and more young, diverse professionals to socialize with.
“Instead of talking about attracting people, GOP politicians talk about attracting businesses, mostly by lowering taxes.
“The irony is businesses will not locate where there are not people to hire. And workers won’t come unless Iowa is a great place to live. . . .
“The “help wanted” signs will remain.”– Iowa Doesn’t Have a Labor Shortage. It has a People Shortage, Editorial, Des Moines Register, 5/6/21 [Link]
Fact Check of Above Quote: This editorial repeats the worn-out claim that we’re running out of people to do jobs. This will not be such a problem, however, as our country is moving quickly to automate many of the jobs now done by people. Within the next fifteen years or so, nearly 40 percent of current jobs may be automated. That shift will happen in Iowa as well as the rest of the country.
In the meantime, Iowa has options other than mass immigration for attracting needed workers. This editorial criticizes the state GOP for not wanting to raise the minimum wage. Apparently they believe that this would encourage Iowans to remain in the state and Americans from other states to move there. But higher wages would also happen if there was no immigration from abroad to suppress U.S. wage levels.
The editorial says that Iowa has a problem attracting Americans because it doesn’t have the scenery and the diversity that other states have to offer. But with so many Americans fleeing the impacts of multiculturalism and diversity, places like Iowa are becoming more and more appealing. By inviting mass immigration to Iowa, the Register is working to negate that appeal.