Building a Strong Construction Workforce Under Immigration Policy Changes

The construction industry is a major pillar of the U.S. economy, yet it’s facing an urgent and rapidly growing labor shortage. Potential deportation policies will only increase the crisis, as these shortages will lead to completion delays, potential safety hazards, and increased costs. Unfortunately, the accelerated deterioration of the labor force supply will likely be detrimental to the industry. 

Looking toward the future, construction companies must prepare for changes before they start happening to protect themselves from not being able to keep up with demand. It’s more crucial than ever to take a proactive approach.

Train and Educate

As policies change, it’s becoming apparent that undocumented workers will likely be unable to fill the ever-growing labor gap, leaving an unfulfilled need for construction companies constantly held to tight schedules. Training and educational initiatives can increase the long-term supply of skilled workers while reducing the reliance on undocumented labor.

Engaging families early to highlight the benefits of careers in this industry can help alleviate future labor shortages and improve overall workforce stability. Guidance counselors in high schools are often overlooked influencers who have access to students who are considering what they should do in the future. Acknowledging that not every student is meant for a white-collar career is necessary. In fact, many find their passion in hands-on work, seeing a project from start to finish.

Promoting vocational schools can provide students with practical skills that better prepare them for the workforce. When mastering a specific trade, students learn by doing instead of reading about it. Vocational schools also collaborate with local businesses and can offer career placement, making the process smooth.

Partner With Trusted Construction Staffing

Managers on construction sites are constantly being pulled in a million different directions. From managing clients’ expectations to dealing with project delays and change orders, it is essential that project managers and superintendents have access to adequate labor, both skilled and unskilled. Partnering with a staffing agency will help not only accelerate the hiring process but also stay abreast of the ever-changing policies.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is aggressively inspecting and targeting construction companies to ensure employees are legally authorized to work. I-9 forms, which certify an employee’s eligibility to work in the U.S., are critical in this process. Some states now require that employers utilize the federal program E Verify which monitors whether or not the data supplied on the I-9 is valid. Not all staffing companies and not all subcontractors utilize E Verify.

Given the renewed effort that the federal government is placing on rooting out illegal immigration, companies and industries that have a mixed history with hiring undocumented workers either directly or through sub-contractors need to be very careful in whom they are selecting as partners. That is, a staffing company or a reliable subcontractor may fulfill the role of meeting labor needs quickly, but if they do not utilize E Verify they could expose your company to massive fines, delays, and unwanted negative publicity. With their extensive experience and knowledge, these agencies can also recognize valid vs. fraudulent work authorization documents that may go unnoticed.

Another factor that heightens this risk is that there are numerous subcontractors whose entire cost structure and business model are based upon the employment of undocumented workers. While that may save the general contractor money if all goes well and the law is not enforced, it creates a far larger risk to the project if it is known -or should easily have been known- that the subcontractor was likely circumventing U.S. employment laws.

Staffing companies and subcontractors that employ the E Verify system may well be somewhat more expensive than those that do not since the former cannot access undocumented workers, but it is relatively similar to buying reputation insurance and a completion bond given the risk of having the job shut down due to an ICE enforcement action is far, far less.

Improve Job Satisfaction

The construction industry is characterized by long hours and physically demanding labor, posing challenges to workers’ well-being and endurance. Implementing strategies and leveraging resources can enhance job satisfaction and improve a work site’s morale and employee loyalty.

Train foremen to be more empathetic toward their crews – Cultivating management skills and leading with empathy are essential to understanding a situation from another person’s perspective.

Offer competitive benefits – Working in the construction field equates to more workers’ compensation claims and higher overall medical expenses. Because of this, providing reasonable access to high-quality, affordable health insurance is particularly important.

Provide language training – Language barriers can lead to miscommunication of vital information, leading to accidents. Learning a new language can be laborious and time-consuming. Technology (e.g., translation apps) is making these barriers more manageable.

Offer upskilling opportunities – To gain a competitive edge, many staffing agencies and employers have offered workers opportunities to develop proficiency in digital tools and technologies. With the shortage of skilled workers, the opportunity is great for employers in the construction industry to offer formal and informal apprenticeships which can dramatically reduce turnover and increase job satisfaction.

Enhance Technology and Automation

The construction industry is plagued with the stereotype of being excessively slow. While some may fear the word automation, construction can greatly benefit from using it for many reasons. While capabilities are evolving daily, companies are already benefiting from robots performing repetitive and time-consuming activities like laying bricks, paving roads, and excavating. Drones are also being used to conduct site surveys and inspections.

Technology can also improve the safety of construction workers, particularly when working on dangerous projects. For example, drones can monitor site hazards and safety concerns by quickly inspecting buildings to find defects such as leaks, cracks, or variations from approved project plans.

Utilizing technology also provides companies with a fresh talent pipeline that thrives when using emerging tools and tech. There’s a long-standing perception of construction jobs: physical and dirty, orange vests and hard hats. And while those jobs are very important, this image no longer matches the reality of many modern job sites. Now, exciting and less physically demanding jobs are available thanks to tech-enabled job sites, which will help attract younger generations who grew up with technology and want to bring those skills to the workforce.

By embracing strategic workforce planning, training initiatives, staffing partnerships, and technological advancements, the construction industry can better navigate the challenges posed by shifting immigration policies. Proactively addressing labor shortages through education, automation, and improved job satisfaction will not only ensure project stability but also attract the next generation of skilled workers. As the industry evolves, construction leaders must remain adaptable and forward-thinking to build a resilient workforce capable of meeting the demands of tomorrow.