Americans are feeling the strain of high housing costs as the crisis shows no signs of slowing. Some home builders argue that increased immigration could help ease the burden on American households.
The Trump administration has suggested that tightening immigration enforcement would free up units currently housing illegal aliens and other immigrants, but industry experts disagree.
“Labor is one of the largest and most expensive inputs when it comes to home production and land development,” said Jim Tobin, CEO and president of the National Association of Home Builders. “We’ve got to create a visa system for people who want to work legally in this country, in the construction industry.”
A shortage in skilled labor has led to costly delays and higher expenses for builders, who pass on these costs to homebuyers. Tobin noted that there is a persistent gap in construction labor, with as many as 400,000 workers missing during busy periods.
