When I was very young, my immigrant parents taught me to stand up for people who don’t have a voice.
Today, I can pass that on in other areas of my life where we believe true safety can only happen if we take care of one another. That philosophy extends to all of our workers.
No matter how long they’re with us, I’m expressing gratitude for the migrant and transient workers who do some pretty tough work out there for us, in pretty tough conditions, too. (Texas heat, anyone?)
This Independence Day, I encourage you to do the same. After all, immigrant workers have been crucial in filling the labor gap in the construction sector, particularly in trades requiring less formal education.
In celebration of migrant and immigrant workers, a crucial backbone of the American workforce and one I’m proud to support at Alder—here are some interesting facts and information about their impact on our amazing country.
- Immigrants constitute a substantial portion of the construction labor force, with about 25% or roughly 3 million foreign-born workers in 2023.
- The share of immigrant construction workers reached a record high of 25.5% in 2023.
- More than half of the immigrant construction workers in the US reside in California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
- In U.S. agriculture, immigrants account for roughly 80% of farmworkers.
- In 2022, immigrants generated $1.6 trillion in economic activity and paid over $579 billion in taxes
Safety is essential, and so is dignity. That means supporting anyone who helps build the foundations of our daily lives. This Independence Day, let’s remember that the strength of this country has always come from the diversity of those who help create it. Immigrant and migrant workers are an important part of our story.