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Emigration and immigration

Immigrant Laborers Hold 22% of US Construction Jobs Amid ICE Raids

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The construction industry has become the target of the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts, with raids impacting workforce availability and project timelines. As of last month, almost a quarter of all immigrants without a college degree - 2.2 million workers - are employed in construction, more than in the next three industries combined. Within the construction industry, immigrant workers are a majority of painters and roofers and comprise over two-thirds of plasterers and stucco masons.

Key Takeaways:

  • The construction industry employs 2.2 million immigrant workers without a college degree, accounting for 22% of all immigrant laborers in the US, as of last month.
  • Immigrant laborers make up a majority (53%) of painters and roofers, and over two-thirds of plasterers and stucco masons in the construction industry.
  • Raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have resulted in a 30-40% reduction in workers showing up for construction crews, leading to delays or cancellation of projects.
  • The construction industry in the southern states, including Florida, North Carolina, and Texas, relies heavily on immigrant labor, with about half of all immigrant laborers (584,000) working in these states.
  • The commercial construction industry in Texas employs many immigrant laborers who are here illegally, with labor costs 40% lower than in large northeastern cities.

Statistics:

  • 2.2 million immigrant workers without a college degree are employed in construction, as of last month.
  • 53% of painters and roofers in the construction industry are immigrant workers.
  • Immigrant laborers comprise over two-thirds (67%) of plasterers and stucco masons in the construction industry.
  • ICE raids have resulted in a 30-40% reduction in workers showing up for construction crews.
  • The Texas commercial construction industry employs immigrant laborers who are not paying for income taxes, overtime, Social Security, or unemployment insurance.
  • Noncitizen immigrant laborers make up 7% of jobholders nationally, including 6% in 2020 and 2021.
  • The share of construction jobs held by immigrant laborers has increased from 19% in 2015 to 22% in 2024.

Sources:

  • Wisconsin Examiner
  • Tim Henderson, Wisconsin Examiner
  • Home Builders Institute (June report)
  • Stateline
  • ipums.org at the University of Minnesota
  • National Hispanic Construction Alliance (Sergio Barajas, executive director)
  • University of California, Berkeley Labor Center (Enrique Lopezlira, director)
  • University of Michigan (David Kelly, lecturer in civil and environmental engineering)

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