American cities building the most homes rely heavily on immigrant construction workers

Harvard research finds that metros issuing the most building permits have a high share of foreign-born construction workers, and experts warn that stepped-up immigration enforcement could worsen a nationwide construction worker shortage.

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies reports that U.S. metros that issued the most residential building permits also rely heavily on foreign-born construction workers. The construction industry faces a large nationwide worker shortage. Experts and trade groups cited in the article say stepped-up immigration enforcement and deportations could deepen that shortfall. The article also notes the administration says it is working on visa and training measures while industry groups call for more domestic training. Key facts: - In the seven metros that issued at least 150,000 residential permits from 2019 to 2023, an average of 54% of construction trades workers were foreign-born, and some high-activity metros had shares above 60%. - Trade groups and economists report a nationwide construction worker shortage measured in the hundreds of thousands, and some firms report hiring difficulty and project delays tied to workforce gaps and immigration enforcement. - The article reports that higher labor costs and delays are expected to push up building costs in the near term, while longer-term fixes cited include productivity gains, modular construction, and more entrants into the trade. Summary: The concentration of foreign-born workers in the most active homebuilding metros links immigration policy to local construction capacity and costs. Undetermined at this time.