Researchers generally agree that the millions of undocumented workers in America are in a weak bargaining position with employers. Fear of deportation can keep wages low, says Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative oriented think-tank in Washington. "The hope would be," Camarota says, "that if we legalize folks, there would be some modest increase in wages, probably in the order of 5%."
Some researchers estimate immigrant wages rise at twice that rate, or more. They say the undocumented will have many new job opportunities. Camarota agrees, particularly as truck drivers and security guards.
He says, "these kind of jobs are usually off-limits because they require background checks and valid Social Security numbers. Once the illegals have legal status they can begin competing for those jobs with the native born and legal immigrants."
That's going to be a concern in Camarota's view, because "these are sometimes reasonably good paying jobs held by Americans who don't have a lot of education."
That added competition should be less of a concern in Ohio where, according to a Pew Center study, undocumented workers make up less than 3% of the population.