Americans Don't Want Farm Jobs

Few Americans take farm jobs


Most in Calif. go to immigrants, data show

BY GARANCE BURKE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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VISALIA, Calif. -- It's a question rekindled by the recession: Are immigrants taking jobs from American citizens? In the heart of the nation's biggest farming state, the answer is a resounding no.



Government data analyzed by the Associated Press show most Americans simply don't apply to harvest fruits and vegetables.

And the few Americans who do usually don't stay in the fields.

"It's just not something that most Americans are going to pack up their bags and move here to do," said farmer Steve Fortin, who pays $10.25 an hour to foreign workers to trim strawberry plants at his nursery near the Nevada border.

The AP analysis showed that, from January to June, California farmers posted ads for 1,160 farm worker positions open to U.S. citizens and legal residents.

But only 233 people in those categories applied after learning of the jobs through unemployment offices in California , Texas, Nevada and Arizona.

One grower brought on 36. No one else hired any.    Read More

Regardless of your position on immigration, the bigger story here is that many people don’t want to work even when jobs are available.  Unfortunately, many people don’t develop a work ethic and would rather rely on the government for an unemployment check.  It’s a rather sad commentary on our society.