Labor Bill Aims to Ease Workforce Shortages

Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) 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, the National Association of Home Builders said.

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 said.

NAHB believes that such a temporary, flexible visa system would help address the chronic labor shortage in the residential construction industry.