New Labor Bill Aims to Ease Workforce Shortages
Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) has re-introduced the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act, legislation that would help alleviate the worker shortage in the construction industry by establishing a market-driven visa system to help employers find more laborers.
Employers would be required to prove they were unable to find American workers for vacant positions, pay them fair wages based on local wage data, and use E-verify to make sure only legal immigrants are hired. NAHB believes that such a temporary, flexible visa system would help address the chronic labor shortage in the residential construction industry.
Learn more about addressing the workforce shortage issue on nahb.org.
Latest from NAHBNow
Mar 09, 2026
Watch Video Highlights from the Leadership Meetings at the 2026 IBSNAHB members who were unable to join us in Orlando, Fla., this February for the leadership meetings at the 2026 International Builders' Show can watch some of the highlights on nahb.org.
Mar 06, 2026
NAHB Court Win Vacates HUD 2021 IECC MandateA recent court decision in a case brought by NAHB and 15 states pertaining to federal energy code mandates is a major win for our members, housing affordability and common-sense regulations.
Latest Economic News
Mar 06, 2026
U.S. Economy Loses 92,000 Jobs in FebruaryThe U.S. labor market weakened in February, as payroll employment declined and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. The cooling labor market could place the Federal Reserve in a challenging position as policymakers weigh slower job growth against inflation pressures from rising oil prices.
Mar 05, 2026
Builders Identify Key Long-Term Forces Shaping Housing Demand and Industry HealthHome builders are keenly aware of the complex long-term outlook ahead for the home building industry. A recent NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI survey asked builders to assess the impact of 14 major trends and forces on the health of the industry and housing demand over the next 10 years.
Mar 05, 2026
Affordability Posts Mild Gains in Second Half of 2025 but Crisis ContinuesThough new and existing homes remain largely unaffordable, the needle moved slightly in the right direction in the second half of 2025, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).