Labor Bill Aims to Ease Workforce Shortage
Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) has introduced the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R. 3734), 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
Advocacy
Dec 10, 2025
NAHB Awards HBAs $60K to Support Advocacy EffortsThe NAHB State and Local Government Affairs Committee recently awarded several HBAs financial assistance through the State and Local Issues Fund.
Labor
Dec 09, 2025
Construction Labor Market StableThe count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry was relatively unchanged in October, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from two years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Dec 09, 2025
Mortgage Activity Continued to Climb in NovemberMortgage activity continued to climb in November, posting the largest year-over-year increase in more than five years. Every major category increased on a year-over-year basis as mortgage rates continue to trend lower, led by strong increases in refinancing and adjustable-rate mortgage activity.
Economics
Dec 08, 2025
Community Associations: A Growing Trend in 2024In 2024, 65.7% of all new single-family homes started were built within a community or homeowner’s association. This share increased from the 64.8% recorded in 2023, according to data tabulated from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).
Economics
Dec 05, 2025
Mortgage Rates Continue to Trend Lower in NovemberThe average mortgage rate in November continued to trend lower to its lowest level in over a year. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.24% in November, 2 basis points (bps) lower than in October. Meanwhile, the 15-year rate increased 3 bps to 5.51%.