[Haddit]

There are thousands of jobs here in Los Angeles where you won’t get hired if you don’t speak Spanish. I’ve been to restaraunts where nobody spoke English. My wife went to Von’s Market and the cashier couldn’t speak English.

[kabar]

"Perhaps equally important, business groups seeking to corner the Hispanic market support bilingualism as well. Indeed, the orientation of U.S. businesses to Hispanic customers means they increasingly need bilingual employees; therefore, bilingualism is affecting earnings. Bilingual police officers and firefighters in southwestern cities such as Phoenix and Las Vegas are paid more than those who only speak English. In Miami, one study found, families that spoke only Spanish had average incomes of $18,000; English-only families had average incomes of $32,000; and bilingual families averaged more than $50,000. For the first time in U.S. history, increasing numbers of Americans (particularly black Americans) will not be able to receive the jobs or the pay they would otherwise receive because they can speak to their fellow citizens only in English."

The Hispanic Challenge By Samuel P. Huntington

[Straight Vermonter]

You, I have been refused work because I don’t speak Spanish. I’m told that I can’t supervise the workforce if I don’t speak their language.

[cll]

Contrast that with this:

Puerto Rico is a predominantly Spanish-speaking territory of the U.S., yet most job listings here require fluency in English. In my industry, we don’t even require Spanish.