Lawmakers in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Missouri and Washington have considered legislation that aims to keep jobs on American soil, the newspaper notes. Some of the bills would require contractors with the state to use employees based in the United States.

Labor unions also want the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, to study the impact that the trend has on the U.S. economy.

Recent reports have said that millions of jobs could be shipped overseas because firms are seeking to reduce labor costs. Many of these countries offer an educated workforce willing to work for less than American workers.

The outsourcing of jobs overseas has received more scrutiny amid a sluggish economy, the newspaper reports.

In response to the efforts of lawmakers and unions, a trade organization from India has hired a lobbying group to represent its interests to members of Congress and state governments, the newspaper reports.

Opponents to the bills say that the restrictions on outsourcing jobs overseas would hurt American businesses. In addition, they say such restrictions could violate the laws of the World Trade Organization.

Labor unions have vowed to continue to fight the migration of jobs overseas, the newspaper reports.

Source:

• Wall Street Journal