The construction business
has always depended
heavily on immigrant labor.
In the mid-1800s, wheelbarrows
were often referred to as
"Irish buggies," and a few
decades later, Italian carpenters,
masons, and laborers
were the backbone of the
industry. That tradition continues
today, with immigrants
from countries as diverse as
China, Brazil, Bosnia, and
Vietnam contributing to the
labor market.
But the most common foreign
language on construction
sites today is, of course,
Spanish. Latino workers now
make up about 15% of the construction
labor force nationally,
according to figures compiled by
the NAHB. That's good news for
builders struggling with a longrunning
labor shortage, but it
can complicate job-site communications,
and many builders are
scrambling to get a handle on the issue.
Room for error. The most efficient solution,