Reply #7: I was in HR for a mfg firm

[mzteris]

pretty decent wages, fairly good benefits. Three shifts a day. It was hot, dirty, repetitive, and noisy on the floor.

The applicant pool?

Primarily hispanic, African American, and other immigrants (Vietnamese, etc.). We rarely even had Caucasian applicants. (And yes, we advertised in the general newspaper, etc.) And what few Caucasians did apply were usually applying for the more specialized jobs - Machine Technician, QC, etc. Sadly what few Caucasians did apply for the mfg jobs were nearly always unemployable due to poor work history/record/references.