List reasons why companies might outsource jobs. Describe pros and cons of outsourcing.

What will be an ideal response?

Companies have a long history of outsourcing, or relying on outside companies to perform certain tasks. Outsourcing enables companies to find workers with specialized experience and to control costs. When a company sends jobs overseas, outsourcing becomes offshoring. A skilled computer professional in the United States typically commands a higher salary than an IT worker in other countries. To remain competitive, many companies have chosen to send computer jobs abroad.?Proponents say that the United States has a long history of outsourcing all types of work when the economics of the situation demands it. Companies feel that they have a right to choose to send business tasks abroad if it saves costs. Foreign economies benefit when companies hire and pay workers a fair wage and provide benefits. American consumers benefit from the reduced cost of goods.?Opponents say that offshoring results in unemployment and harms the economy. Others are concerned that sensitive work, such as health record maintenance or weapons manufacturing, could place U.S. citizens at risk. Some experts state that the work done abroad should be easy to manage and quantifiable in order to ensure it meets company standards. Some companies have received negative press due to inefficiencies in call centers and customer support located abroad.?Government officials and lawmakers struggle with policies regarding offshoring, especially with regard to taxing workers. Politicians debate whether or not companies who keep business in the United States should receive tax breaks. Many argue that the United States should require companies who hire foreign workers to pay a fair salary and provide benefits comparable to those for American workers.