Construction leaders call on Congress to reform immigration system to ease skills shortage

Posted By: Steve Barnes June 21, 2018

ConDig (21-Jun-18).  Leaders of the US construction industry have called on Congress to revamp the immigration system to help alleviate a deepening skills shortage that is crippling the sector.

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) said that it opposes a House bill currently under discussion, The Securing America’s Future Act, H.R. 4760, as it plans to reduce legal immigration by 25 to 40%.

“Although the bills before Congress this week address some immigration issues, unfortunately they fail to alleviate the industry’s workforce shortage,” James V. Christianson, vice president of government relations for AGC wrote in a letter to house speaker Paul Ryan.

“Though the bill would strengthen national security—an AGC priority—through increased investment in border security, it reduces legal immigration. This will, in turn, restrict economic growth and worsen the domestic workforce shortage, especially in the construction industry.”

A survey earlier this year found that 75% of US construction companies expect to recruit more staff this year as the industry continues to gather strength on the back of a robust economy.

But a detailed report published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the USG Corporation at the end of last year showed that 95% of contractors have major issues hiring skilled workers for their construction projects.

AGC added that it welcomed several provisions in another bill in the House that is being considered, The Border Security and Immigration Reform Act, H.R. 6136.

“Such measures include increased investments in border security, addressing DREAMer status, and providing reforms to the visa process. The bill additionally provides reforms to visa issuance and makes some improvements to the immigration system to meet economic and workforce needs,” said Christianson.

“AGC remains hopeful that H.R. 6136 could address some of the immigration issues that have dogged Congress for years and provide a pathway to solving other complex immigration issues in a timely, bipartisan manner. AGC looks forward to working with you to find legislative solutions that can address the workforce needs of the construction industry while also gaining enough support to be enacted.”