As reported in a previous post, immigrants play a significant role in the construction industry. They make up one in four workers and an even higher share among construction tradesmen. In some states, their reliance is particularly notable, with immigrants comprising over 40% of the construction workforce in certain areas.

Government Classification and Occupation Distribution

The government's system for classifying occupations shows that the construction industry employs workers in about 390 occupations. Out of these, only 28 are construction trades, yet they account for almost two-thirds of the construction labor force. The other one-third of workers are in various off-site activities.

Construction Trades with High Immigrant Concentration

Immigrants are particularly concentrated in construction trades essential for home building, such as plasterers and stucco masons, where 61% are of foreign-born origin. Roofers have 52% immigrant workers, painters 51%, and carpet/floor/tile installers 45%. These trades require less formal education but face high labor shortages in surveys.

The Two Most Prevalent Construction Occupations

Laborers and carpenters are the two most prevalent construction occupations, accounting for over a quarter of the construction labor force. A third of all carpenters and 42% of construction laborers are foreign-born. These trades consistently register some of the highest labor shortages in relevant surveys.

Immigrant Presence in Different States

More than half (53%) of the three million immigrant construction workers reside in the four most populous states in the U.S. - California, Texas, Florida, and New York. California and Texas have over half a million foreign-born construction workers each, accounting for over a third (35%) of all immigrant construction workers combined. Florida and New York combined account for an additional 18%. In states like New Jersey (40% in 2023), Nevada (36%), and Maryland (36%), the reliance on immigrant labor is also significant. In Georgia, Connecticut, North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Illinois, more than a quarter of construction workers are foreign-born. At the other end, seven states have a share of immigrant workers of less than 5%.

Immigrant Source Regions

While most states draw the majority of immigrant foreign-born workers from the Americas, Hawaii relies more on Asian immigrants. European immigrants are a significant source of construction labor in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.