LZH9nk5vfcseCCo18hGvnQoVHyNkAv9ukAaL5Lu2PzgBZ5jRAUk5VWKZvg8kflWiry7wz5kVf0CrdC8H5LFL-CUs=000000000000" target="_blank">apprenticeship programs,” Bellaman concludes.

Other Factors to Consider with ABC’s Model

“There are also factors that could render this model overly conservative, meaning worker shortages could be more severe than predicted in 2025,” Basu says. “While the consensus forecast has construction spending increasing by less than 3% in 2025, that same forecast has underestimated growth by a significant margin during each of the past three years.”

“If inflation dissipates in coming months, borrowing costs will subside and construction volumes will increase,” Basu adds. “Faster-than-expected immigration over the past few years has also bolstered labor supply, and potential changes to immigration policy will likely constrain worker availability.”

Implications of New U.S. Administration

“Another solution to addressing the shortage is a merit-based, market-based visa system,” Bellaman says. “ABC’s goal is to work with the Trump administration and Congress to create a visa system that allows people who want to contribute to society and work legally in the construction industry to do so.”

“President Trump and the 119th Congress have a significant opportunity to advance policies and regulations that protect free enterprise, reduce regulatory burdens, expand workforce development, and create a fair and level playing field for all construction workers, regardless of their labor affiliation,” he continues. 

“Legislation like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Employee Rights Act, the Fair and Open Competition Act, and permitting reform can create the conditions for the construction workforce to rebuild America’s infrastructure. The construction industry thrives when all 8.3 million workers are given the opportunity to build America with fewer obstacles.”

About ABC

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association representing more than 23,000 members. Established in 1950 and founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 67 chapters help members develop people, win work, and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.

Source: ABC, www.abc.org.