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 18, 2026
Statement of NAHB 2027 Third Vice Chairman Candidate Don DabbertThe NAHB Nominations Committee has certified one candidate for 2027 Third Vice Chairman: Don Dabbert, from Fargo, N.D., who is a member of the Building Industry Association of the Red River Valley.
Mar 17, 2026
Register for NAHB's 2026 Spring Membership DriveThis year's drive emphasizes the power of member-to-member connections by encouraging members to do business with fellow members.
Latest Economic News
Mar 17, 2026
Lumber Imports and Employment FallU.S. sawmill production was unchanged in the third quarter according to the Federal Reserve G.17 Industrial Production report. Utilization rates for sawmills and wood preservation industries remained near 70% despite a weakened demand environment from lower levels of residential construction in the third quarter of 2025.
Mar 17, 2026
Best Year for Missing Middle Construction Since 2007While not a huge jump, 2025 featured the highest construction volume for multifamily missing middle housing starts.
Mar 16, 2026
Builder Sentiment Inches Higher but Affordability Concerns PersistBuilder sentiment inched up in March even as builders continue to express affordability concerns stemming from elevated construction costs and shortages of buildable lots and labor.