The U.S. construction industry is navigating a period of heightened uncertainty in 2025, marked by shifting trade policies, restrictive immigration enforcement, and persistently high interest rates. New tariffs on imported steel and aluminum have driven up the cost of materials, delaying projects and prompting redesigns, while a tight labor market and evolving immigration rules have strained the industry's ability to find skilled workers. At the same time, high borrowing costs continue to limit new development, especially in residential construction. For many construction workers, these economic headwinds are compounded by chronic inflationary pressures that continue to erode the purchasing power of their wages.
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