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,
