Immigration Enforcement Emerges as Construction Industry’s Biggest 2026 Wildcard
Associated General Contractors of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson is warning that immigration enforcement represents the single biggest wildcard facing the construction industry in 2026 — noting that construction is nearly twice as dependent on foreign-born workers as the broader economy, with 34% of the construction workforce being foreign-born compared to 18% across all industries. While few Oregon and Washington construction firms have been directly affected by jobsite enforcement actions so far, Simonson warns that the Department of Homeland Security has received a significant boost in funding and staffing, making 2026 a potentially active year for jobsite enforcement that could seriously disrupt already tight labor pipelines across the Pacific Northwest.
Source: Associated General Contractors of America / Window + Door Magazine Read the full story: https://www.windowanddoor.com/article/2026-construction-industry-forecast
