As a result, even the most successful US graduates will still struggle to compete in the global job market because only a small percentage have the skills necessary, while a majority of Hong Kong students possess similar skills. Since America's top-performing schools get a low percentage of top-performing students, that means that percentage, in every other state, will face greater problems. “The current and future workforce will compete not only with each other and with millions of newly arrived immigrants, but also with equally (or better) skilled workers in low-wage economies around the world” ( ETS). Under NAFTA, many owners outsourced their operations overseas because they preferred to increase profits by hiring higher-quality workers at lower wages, thereby depriving Americans of jobs. “Researchers predict that more than 3 million white-collar jobs in the United States will be lost to other countries, including India, China, Russia, and the Philippines, by 2015” (Bates 2003 ). “In addition to call center jobs, accounting, loan processing, and financial analysis positions are among the growing number of positions moving overseas” (Bates 2003). Companies do not think about the consequences of such actions, including diminished quality of life in the United States, when transferring lucrative opportunities elsewhere. Foreign college graduates may actually be more likely to benefit from high-paying opportunities when they enter the United States than American workers, which can be devastating for Americans. This article does not blame immigrants for the lack of jobs, but simply blames companies for their cost-cutting tactics. Ambitious immigrants are still eligible to enter the United States, especially when they have specialized skills that will make them more competitive. Help for struggling students risks falling behind their peers. Such a strategy will also prevent students from developing essential skills at an early stage. “State education grants to school districts have also been cut in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Virginia” (Johnson 2009). The budget deficit may force schools to cut career and skills-based curricula, forcing schools to teach students how to pass a test that has nothing to do with the workforce system. The opposition voted against increased spending, but in reality some spending is necessary as long as it funds effective programs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was implemented to distribute funds to struggling school systems and increase opportunities for disadvantaged students..