The States and Construction Trades Most Reliant on Immigrant Workers

Immigrant work totaled 26.3% of the entire construction workforce in 2024, a record high. The number is even higher among construction trades as immigrants accounted for one-third of that workforce.

A recent NAHB analysis details the states and construction trades most dependent on immigrant work.

Which construction trades are most reliant on immigrant work?

Immigrants play a key role in construction trades that are essential to home building. They comprise 57% of the drywall and ceiling tile installation force, 56% of all plasterers and stucco masons, 53% of roofers, 53% of painters, and 51% of carpet, floor and tile installers.

Laborers and carpenters account for more than a quarter of the industry's labor force, and among them, 35% of carpenters and 43% of construction laborers are foreign-born. 

Which states have the most immigrant workers in their construction workforce?

• California (42.1% of the workforce)
• Florida (40.6%)
• Texas (39%)
• Nevada (38.6%)
• New York (37.1%)
• Maryland (37%)

More than half of the nation's 3 million immigrant construction workers reside in the four most-populated states: California, Texas, Florida and New York. California and Texas each are home to more than half a million foreign-born construction workers.

Which states have the least immigrant workers in their construction workforce?

• Vermont (1.4%) 
• West Virginia (2.6%)
• Alaska (3.2%)
• Montana (4.3%)
• New Hampshire (4.6%)

NAHB AVP of Housing Policy Research Natalia Siniavskaia provides more analysis, including interactive maps with data for each state, in this Eye on Housing post.