A new research report, Empowering Texas: Immigrants’ Contributions to the Construction Industry, released today by the American Immigration Council, underscores the crucial role immigrants play in Texas’ construction industry. The report was prepared in partnership with Texans for Economic Growth, a statewide 145+ member business coalition powered by the American Immigration Council, and the Greater Houston Builders Association.
For more information, see our press release.
-
Immigrants are bolstering the state’s construction labor force. In 2022, immigrants represented 40.0 percent of all employed workers in the construction industry, and undocumented immigrants represented 23.3 percent of all employed workers in the industry.
-
Immigrants will help the state’s construction industry meet future needs. From 2018 to 2023, there were 508,200 unique job postings in the construction industry in Texas. During the same time, 4.6 percent of all job postings in the construction industry prioritized bilingual skills. Immigrants across the skills spectrum are prepared to meet that demand.
-
Immigrants in Texas foster innovation in the construction industry. In 2022, despite making up 17.2 percent of the state’s total population, immigrants comprised 39.7 percent of all entrepreneurs in the construction industry.
-
International students are preparing to join the industry. In 2022, 2,900 degrees were awarded to international students in construction trades, engineering, or engineering technologies and engineering-related fields in Texas, equipping international students with the necessary skills to support the construction industry.
