Building the American Dream: Why Immigrants Are the Real MVPs of Residential Construction

Subtitle: Because without them, your dream home might remain just that—a dream.

Ah, the American Dream: a white picket fence, a cozy home, and the sweet smell of apple pie wafting through the air. But have you ever paused mid-bite to wonder who’s building that dream? Spoiler alert: it’s not elves, and it’s certainly not your Uncle Bob who once assembled an IKEA bookshelf (crookedly, we might add). No, the unsung heroes of residential construction are often immigrants. Let’s dive into why they’re indispensable and what might happen if we suddenly sent them packing.

Immigrants: The Backbone of Construction

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, immigrants make up a whopping 31% of all workers in construction trades.  That’s nearly one in three workers! Imagine a construction site without them: you’d have a lot of hard hats with no heads to put them on.

In fact, in 2023, the share of immigrants in construction reached a new historic high of 25.5%. In construction trades, the share of immigrants remains even higher, with one in three craftsmen coming from outside the U.S.

Mass Deportations: A Blueprint for Disaster

Now, let’s play a game of “What If?” What if we decided to deport a significant portion of these workers? Well, according to the American Immigration Council, mass deportations would cause significant labor shocks across multiple key industries, with especially acute impacts on construction.

Removing that labor would disrupt all forms of construction across the nation, from homes to businesses to basic infrastructure. As industries suffer, hundreds of thousands of U.S.-born workers could lose their jobs.

The Domino Effect: From Empty Tool Belts to Empty Wallets

But wait, there’s more! The National Association of Home Builders points out that reforms to the immigration system are an important component in workforce development, because the immigrant workforce plays a critical role in meeting the nation’s housing needs.

By reducing the labor force, stepped-up immigration enforcement would slow down construction, increase home prices and could even reduce job opportunities for U.S. citizens.

Conclusion

In conclusion, immigrants aren’t just a part of the residential construction industry—they’re the foundation. Without them, our housing market could crumble faster than a poorly built sandcastle. So, the next time you admire a beautifully built home, remember to tip your hard hat to the immigrant workers who made it possible. Because when it comes to building the American Dream, they’re the real MVPs. Go out and support your favorite Latino owned business as well! Looking at you Panaderia Jazmin <3

Sources:

•NAHB & Eye on Housing: Immigrants make up over 30% of construction workers, critical for meeting housing needs (nahb.org, eyeonhousing.org).

•American Immigration Council: Mass deportations would disrupt construction and harm U.S. job opportunities (americanimmigrationcouncil.org).

•University of Utah: Labor shortages increase home prices and slow project completion (attheu.utah.edu).