By Cyndie Williams

The headlines paint a grim picture: The construction industry needs to attract 439,000 new workers in 2025 to keep up with demand. Reports warn of stalled projects, missed deadlines and a workforce pipeline that isn’t keeping pace with the country’s building boom.

But let’s be clear. This isn’t a labor shortage; it’s a shortage of jobs that pay a livable wage.

Across New Jersey and across the country, trade unions have millions of workers ready to step onto job sites. These skilled workers are ready to build data centers, hydrogen hubs and other megaprojects in the pipeline. Millions more await a call to join as apprentices. The backlog of workers eager to join unions speaks volumes about the demand for good-paying construction jobs.

So, no, the problem isn’t a lack of people who want to work construction – it’s a lack of employers willing to invest in local workers by paying fair wages and providing strong job protections.

Let’s think about this logically and with an eye toward the future. Investing in workforce development is a far better solution than relying on foreign workers on H-2B visas. The Band-Aid approach creates a revolving door of low-wage labor, in which many workers come to the U.S. temporarily, send money back home and leave when their visas expire.

This does not strengthen local economies in New Jersey, or anywhere for that matter.

This does not build long-term careers.

And this certainly does nothing to create a sustainable workforce.

Often, these visa workers are used and mistreated by contractors. When they serve their purpose, they are sent back to their home countries. And that’s exactly what several industry groups want because the Band-Aid is cheap and has no long-term obligations.

Whether they are American or foreign born, non-union workers typically lack stability, are often paid substandard wages and rarely receive the benefits they deserve. That’s why many leave construction altogether, seeking jobs that provide the financial security they need. If we want to attract and retain good workers, the answer is simple: pay them fairly and treat them with dignity.

That begins with workforce development, and union apprenticeship programs are the gold standard for workforce development, offering rigorous training, hands-on experience and a direct path to a sustainable career. Apprentices receive sustainable wages, health benefits and pensions – all of which keep workers invested in their communities.

Of course, some ethical nonunion contractors pay their workers well, follow the rules and contribute to the economy. But there’s only one group that has an unwavering commitment to workforce development, hands-on-training, preventing wage theft, uplifting communities and ensuring diversity in the workforce.

That’s a trade union. I am proud to be in an organization that is part of this commitment. Our signatory contractors pay workers what they are owed, on time, every time, and we see those wages staying in communities and the reason is simple. Workers earn fair pay, spend locally, supporting restaurants, shops and small businesses in downtowns like Morristown, Red Bank and Haddonfield. That’s a massive economic multiplier that visa programs simply can’t replicate.

Our union partners are also significantly further ahead on workforce development, diversity and inclusion. The union model has created more opportunities for underrepresented communities than the nonunion side of the industry. Union training programs actively recruit and develop a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where projects are built. Trade unions are also committed to creating safe work environments for their workforce through this extensive training.

So, no, we don’t need more visa Band-Aids. We need more contractors and developers willing to pay fair wages and commit to building a system that can meet demand. And more than anything, we need people to recognize the long-term value of hiring skilled union labor instead of chasing short-term, low-cost fixes.

Union workers are standing by, ready to work. Will the industry finally step up and give them the jobs they deserve?

Cyndie Williams is the executive director of the Carpenter Contractor Trust, representing 42,000 carpenters and thousands of signatory contractors across a six-state region, including New Jersey. Appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy to the Brookdale Community College Board of Trustees, Williams has been a long-time advocate for education and workforce development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies and Employment Relations from Rutgers University and a Journey Level Carpenter certification.