Labor markets also provide a glimpse of how of regionalism is taking hold. In August 2018, a Washington Post article gave an example of this from the crabbing industry of eastern shore Maryland.
The eastern shore of Maryland is home to some of the most productive crabbing in the United States. Once pulled from the water, crabs are processed in large crab-picking houses where workers pull the meat from the tiny creatures for use by restaurants in crab cakes and other delicacies. Its difficult and monotonous work, but necessary to provide restaurants with the crabmeat customers so desire.
Last year, however, there was a problem: there weren’t enough workers. The industry depends upon seasonal labor to get through the summer—the most productive and profitable time of year. Historically, about one-third of the summer workforce comes from Mexico, but increased restrictions to the H-2B guest worker visa program by the Trump Administration meant most of the workers could not make the trip. Raising wages to attract American workers didn’t help: few Americans want to do that kind of work. As it was, many crab houses lost most of their harvest and their profits. One stopped construction on a new building. One vowed to move to Mexico if it had another season like that one.
This American labor shortage, normally filled by seasonal Mexican workers, highlights some of the synergy that exists between the two nations. This is not a displacement of domestic workers; this is the fulfillment an otherwise unfulfilled need, and a mutually beneficial relationship that inherently exists and boosts the economies of two countries. Labor policies need to acknowledge this reality. Making the guest visa program work in this context would be a win-win for all involved.
Allowing available labor to fill available jobs recognizes a synergy that increasingly binds together nations within this region.
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