NLBMDA says more foreign labor needed
Given the labor shortage impacting growth in the construction and home building industres, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association (NLBMDA) revealed today that it supports a temporary guest worker program to recruit legal, foreign-born individuals.
The NLBMDA also said that Congress should consider reforms that would help revitalize the economy and residential construction.
“NLBMDA supports a temporary guest worker program as part of a comprehensive immigration plan,” NLBMDA Chair Rick Lierz said in a prepared statement issued this morning. Lierz is also the president and CEO of Franklin Building Supply in Boise, Idaho. “A healthy home building industry needs legal immigrants to help meet the demand for skilled labor.”
According to the NLBMDA, labor shortages are a challenge to the continued growth of the housing industry. Foreign-born individuals comprise 30% of all workers in construction trades, and in some specialties, are nearly half of all workers, the association said.
A comprehensive immigration solution is needed that protects the nation’s borders; includes a market-based visa program to fill workforce gaps in residential construction; and provides a workable employment verification system that includes appropriate protections for small businesses, the NLBMDA said.
The NLBMDA also said that Congress should consider reforms that would help revitalize the economy and residential construction.
“NLBMDA supports a temporary guest worker program as part of a comprehensive immigration plan,” NLBMDA Chair Rick Lierz said in a prepared statement issued this morning. Lierz is also the president and CEO of Franklin Building Supply in Boise, Idaho. “A healthy home building industry needs legal immigrants to help meet the demand for skilled labor.”
According to the NLBMDA, labor shortages are a challenge to the continued growth of the housing industry. Foreign-born individuals comprise 30% of all workers in construction trades, and in some specialties, are nearly half of all workers, the association said.
A comprehensive immigration solution is needed that protects the nation’s borders; includes a market-based visa program to fill workforce gaps in residential construction; and provides a workable employment verification system that includes appropriate protections for small businesses, the NLBMDA said.