| The purpose of this study was to examine two day labor hiring sites in Los Angeles, California. One regulated site, known as a job center, and an unregulated area, comprised of three street corner sites, were used to gather data. Questionnaires were employed to gather information regarding day labor, including frequency of employment, wages, and type of work solicited, as well as demographic information. The geographic pull, or distance each day laborer was willing to travel to the site, was determined. Further, the attitudes and perceptions of day laborers at each site regarding regulated and unregulated hiring sites were determined. The results of this study indicated that day laborers were entirely male, immigrants, and had been in the United States for varying amounts of time. A majority of day laborers were between the ages of 20 and 39, but significant percentages were under 20 of between the ages of 40 and 59. Although most day laborers sought work almost daily, few were actually employed daily.;The vast majority of day laborers at both sites thought that regulation of day labor hiring sites was good and believed regulated sites were better than unregulated sites.;Differences were found between the regulated and unregulated hiring sites. Day laborers at the regulated site were found to be from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala, while those at the unregulated site were entirely from Mexico. Day laborers at the unregulated site were found to be hired more frequently, and for longer hour jobs, than those at the regulated site, while day laborers at the regulated site earned a better hourly wage than those at the unregulated site. |
