{"id":35080,"date":"2026-04-18T04:10:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T11:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/the-us-may-already-have-a-negative-immigration-rate-thats-bad-for-construction\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T04:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T11:10:14","slug":"the-us-may-already-have-a-negative-immigration-rate-thats-bad-for-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/the-us-may-already-have-a-negative-immigration-rate-thats-bad-for-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"The US may already have a negative immigration rate. That\u2019s bad for construction."},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech\">\n    <button class=\"text-to-speech__button button\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"text-to-speech__button__icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?313321260226\" alt=\"-\"><br \/>\n        Listen to the article<\/p>\n<p>            <span class=\"text-to-speech__button__audio-length\">6 min<\/span><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls\">\n        <audio controls=\"\" class=\"js-text-to-speech\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/text-to-speech.divecdn.com\/newspost\/817865\/2026-04-17_16.19.35\/immigration-rate-construction-workers-labor-shortage-trades.wav\" type=\"audio\/mp3\"><\/source><\/audio><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls__text\">\n            This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">feedback<\/a>.\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The share of immigrants in the overall construction workforce hit a record high in 2024. However, that number is likely to drop in the future due to recent U.S. policy, experts told Construction Dive.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>That decrease will have detrimental impacts for commercial construction, which has a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/labor-demand-gap-shrinks-abc-construction-staff\/810681\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>dire need for workers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and relies on foreign-born professionals for craft work, sources said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In 2024, 26.3% of people in the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nahb.org\/blog\/2026\/04\/Which-States-and-Construction-Trades-Depend-the-Most-on-Immigrant-Workers\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>construction workforce were immigrants<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, according to a National Association of Home Builders analysis of Census Bureau&#8217;s annual American Community Survey. The detailed survey of population and employment asks about country of birth but not work authorization status.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Among tradesworkers \u2014 roles such as plumbers, electricians and welders \u2014 the number of immigrants is even higher; about one-third of those workers are foreign born.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The report did not distinguish between the residential and nonresidential building sectors. But Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, noted that the concentration of foreign-born workers appears higher in the residential sector.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For example, the \u201chighest shares of foreign-born workers are all occupations heavily used in homebuilding, whereas trades with lower-than-national-average shares, such as equipment operators, are used more heavily in nonresidential construction, including infrastructure,\u201d Simonson said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The record high share of foreign workers in construction was recorded before President Donald Trump assumed the White House for the second time in January 2025. The data highlights the industry\u2019s reliance on the critical mass of immigrant workers even as it struggles to fill jobsite positions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With economists now predicting the U.S. could soon trend toward a negative immigration rate \u2014 if it hasn\u2019t already crossed that threshold \u2014 the shortage of workers could grow even more exacerbated.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>The trades immigrants work in<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Nationally, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jchs.harvard.edu\/blog\/homebuilding-and-remodeling-depend-immigrant-labor-major-metros\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>immigrants make up one in five workers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> for all industries, according to Riordan Frost, senior research analyst for Harvard\u2019s Joint Center for Housing Studies. In the construction trades, it\u2019s about one in three, per Frost.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Some roles, including drywall installers and roofers, have even higher shares of immigrants \u2014 57% and 53%, respectively \u2014 and are more likely seen on home builders\u2019 jobsites. Meanwhile, structural iron and steel workers and heavy equipment operators \u2014 which count 16% and 14% of immigrant workers, respectively \u2014 are often found on nonresidential sites.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"inside_story\">\n<div class=\"figure_content\">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A chart shows the share of immigrant workers in various construction trades.\" data-imagemodel=\"196754\" src=\"https:\/\/imgproxy.divecdn.com\/xgffsDLBx_G9Z218eS0hwV5F3YEvUqBeD89pqe1DFbc\/g:ce\/rs:fit:1600:0\/Z3M6Ly9kaXZlc2l0ZS1zdG9yYWdlL2RpdmVpbWFnZS9pbW1pZ3JhbnQtd29ya2ZvcmNlLXN0YXRpc3RpY3MtYmxvZy0xNjAweDkwMC5wbmc=.webp\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"inside_story_caption\">\n<div class=\"source_text\">Retrieved from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nahb.org\/blog\/2026\/04\/Which-States-and-Construction-Trades-Depend-the-Most-on-Immigrant-Workers\" target=\"_blank\">NAHB<\/a> on April 17, 2026<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For the seven metros that issued the most homebuilding permits between 2019 and 2023, an average of 54% of the trades workforce was foreign\u2011born, according to Frost\u2019s research.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Although the concentration of immigrant workers appears higher in the residential sector, commercial contractors still rely on those professionals and have begun to see detrimental effects from U.S. immigration policy under Trump, industry experts said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cCommercial contractors need to pay close attention to immigration data because it directly affects workforce availability and their ability to meet project demand,\u201d said Kristen Swearingen, vice president of government affairs for Associated Builders and Contractors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>The decrease in construction workforce<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In January, the U.S. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/newsroom\/blogs\/random-samplings\/2026\/01\/historic-decline-in-net-international-migration.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Census Bureau reported that net immigration<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> \u2014 the flow of people entering and exiting the country \u2014 peaked at 2.7 million for the year ending July 1, 2024. That figure dropped to 1.3 million in 2025, and could decline further to about 321,000 once data is in for 2026, the bureau reported.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Indeed, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/macroeconomic-implications-of-immigration-flows-in-2025-and-2026-january-2026-update\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>net negative migration<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> may have already occurred, according to a January report from the Brookings Institute. Brookings estimated net migration was between -10,000 and -295,000 for the 2025 calendar year.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Whatever the true number is, the result is in no small part due to Trump\u2019s policy to bolster <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/how-immigration-enforcement-will-impact-construction-in-2026\/809482\/?preview_gate=0\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and presence<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> to increase deportations. The White House issued a release last month highlighting the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/releases\/2026\/03\/america-first-in-action-u-s-records-net-negative-migration-across-every-metro-area\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>impact of Trump\u2019s immigration policy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, including Brookings\u2019 net negative migration data.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cI think this shows the vulnerability of construction to measures that effectively close the borders to individuals who would otherwise be potential construction workers, while immigration enforcement is already causing some workers to stay away from jobsites,\u201d Simonson said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For those reasons, it\u2019s logical to assume \u201cthat the foreign-born percentages of workers in immigrant-heavy trades will have declined in 2025 and 2026,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Even if ICE officers don\u2019t conduct jobsite raids at every major project across the country, the ripple effect from tighter enforcement can still reduce worker head count.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"storylines-carousel-wrapper hide-small show-large\" id=\"desktop-carousel\"\/>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cABC has heard from members across the country that immigration enforcement has strengthened since 2024, which has scared their employees away from going to work and possibly being detained for infractions\u2014these are foreign-born workers who are here legally,\u201d Swearingen said. \u201cThis has caused job delays and cost overruns for general contractors.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Groups advocate for legal labor pathways<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Major contractor groups have pushed for <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/bill-proposes-construction-visa-immigrant-employment\/801832\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>change to increase options<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and means for workers to come to the U.S. and join the workforce legally.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cWe and many contractors continue to urge policymakers in Washington to create a pathway for employers to sponsor qualified workers when none are available domestically,\u201d Simonson said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Swearingen said ABC expects to see an effective market-based worker visa system introduced in the near term.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cCoupled with the proper provisions\u2014this solution would strengthen America\u2019s immigration laws and provide a lawful pathway for needed workers,\u201d she said. \u201cBy basing access on market need, lawmakers can ensure that the construction workforce better reflects real economic conditions and helps stabilize projects, costs and timelines.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/immigration-rate-construction-workers-labor-shortage-trades\/817865\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This article was originally posted at Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Listen to the article 6 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. The &#8230; <a title=\"The US may already have a negative immigration rate. That\u2019s bad for construction.\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/the-us-may-already-have-a-negative-immigration-rate-thats-bad-for-construction\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The US may already have a negative immigration rate. That\u2019s bad for construction.\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[457],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-construction-dive","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35080\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}