America is suffering a shortage of construction workers and sabotaging its ability to fill vacancies by wiping out the industry’s immigrant backbone
The construction industry in the U.S. is facing significant labor shortages exacerbated by immigration crackdowns. A recent study indicates that employment among undocumented immigrants in construction has dropped sharply, leading to project delays and increased costs. Experts warn that these labor shortages could hinder economic growth and affect the overall housing market.
- ▪Construction site projects are experiencing delays due to a shortage of workers, particularly among undocumented immigrants.
- ▪A study found that employment among likely undocumented workers in construction dropped by 7.5% in areas affected by ICE raids.
- ▪The U.S. needs to hire 349,000 more construction workers by 2026 to meet demand, while the overall job growth has been much lower.
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Last July, construction site superintendent Robby Robertson warned his $20 million recreation center project in Mobile, Alabama, would likely be delayed for three weeks. He told Reuters that half of his workers stopped showing up to the site after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on another site in Florida, nearly 230 miles away, afraid of facing the risk of deportation.Recommended Video The delay would cost Robertson an estimated $84,000, with $4,000 of daily “liquidation damages” mounting for each day the project dragged past its Nov. 1 deadline. Robertson’s problem may be a nationwide challenge.
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