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Addressing the Construction Industry Workforce Shortage

ASA continues to lead the way on pressing issues of critical importance to subcontractors. The following clarifies our Immigration reform Priorities and Principles. Please read, share and make your voice heard by joining our Voter Voice campaign.

The construction industry is facing a critical workforce shortage that requires immediate action. ASA members alone will need 723,000 workers annually to meet current demand, driven by natural disaster recovery efforts and increased data center construction. This shortage is already affecting labor costs, with average hourly earnings increasing by 4.4% over the past year.

OUR IMMIGRATION REFORM PRIORITIES

As we advocate for solutions to this workforce crisis, ASA urges the 119th Congress to prioritize the following immigration reforms:

  1. Expand the H-2B Visa Program specifically for construction companies by:
    • Exempting returning workers who have followed the law from counting against the statutory cap
    • Making the program more compatible with construction industry needs
  2. Increase Employment-Based Visa Quotas to allow more qualified workers to enter the industry legally
  3. Create a Market-Driven Visa Program for foreign workers that:
    • Provides visas valid long enough to protect employer training investments
    • Makes visas renewable
    • Allows employers to sponsor employees for permanent residency
    • Sets flexible caps based on marketplace needs without arbitrary restrictions on construction
    • Ensures guestworkers receive equal labor and employment law protections
  4. Protect DACA and TPS Recipients currently working in the construction industry
  5. Improve E-Verify with appropriate employer safeguards to create a reliable employment verification system

ESSENTIAL REFORM PRINCIPLES

Any effective immigration reform must:

  • Strengthen national security through proper screening and border measures
  • Establish federal preemption over state and local laws to create uniform standards
  • Maintain "knowing" as the liability standard for employing unauthorized workers
  • Avoid vicarious liability for subcontractor hiring actions
  • Set penalties that are reasonable and proportionate to violations
  • Provide an earned path to legal status for law-abiding undocumented workers already contributing to our economy

CALL TO ACTION

 We need all chapters to please mobilize immediately:

  1. Contact Your Legislators: Inform them that immigration reform must be prioritized to address our industry's workforce shortage. Please respond to this Voter Voice Campaign by clicking on this link.
  2. Review ASA’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform White Paper Here
  3. Educate Fellow Members: Share these priorities and help them understand how immigration reform directly impacts their businesses
  4. Collect Industry Stories: Document specific examples of how the worker shortage is affecting projects and costs in your region
  5. Participate in ASA June Fly In (June 10-11, 2025 in Washington, DC.): Join us in amplifying our message that there is no other effective way to meet our industry's workforce needs than to provide legal pathways for workers to enter the US and become productive members of our society. REGISTER HERE

Together, we can make a difference through Better Construction Through Fair Construction!

For questions or additional resources, please contact the Advocacy Department at moscar@asa- hq.com

 

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