Labor Day gives us an opportunity to pause and recognize the people whose hands, skills, determination, and sacrifice have helped build America. For generations, Hispanic workers have been an essential part of that story—particularly in construction, where their contributions can be seen in the homes we live in, the roads we travel, the buildings where we work, and the communities we call home.
Yet the history of Hispanic contributions to the American workforce has not always been told fairly.
For generations, Hispanic workers have shown up, worked hard, raised families, started businesses, learned trades, built companies, and helped communities grow—even when they were overlooked, underestimated, or, at times, openly vilified. Through changing economic conditions, political debates, immigration policies, and periods when being Hispanic or an immigrant was unfairly portrayed as a problem, they persisted.
And perhaps that persistence is one of the defining characteristics of the Hispanic experience in America.
That persistence is not simply a response to adversity; it is a reflection of the tremendous economic and cultural force that Hispanic Americans represent. In construction alone, Hispanics have become an increasingly important part of the workforce, from skilled tradespeople and supervisors to contractors, developers, architects, engineers, business owners, and industry leaders.
The numbers tell an important story.
If you are anti-immigrant or anti-Hispanic, you are not simply arguing against an idea—you are fighting the math. America needs workers. America needs builders. America needs entrepreneurs. America needs the next generation of skilled professionals and business owners. And Hispanics are already a significant and growing part of that workforce.
But this isn’t about replacing one group with another. It is about recognizing that America is stronger when everyone has an opportunity to contribute.
That is the spirit behind the work of the National Hispanic Construction Alliance. NHCA is not about exclusion. Quite the opposite. We believe in building bridges, creating opportunity, developing talent, and bringing people together around the common goal of building a stronger construction industry and a stronger America.
Our growth is something worth celebrating—not because the challenges are over, but because we have continued moving forward despite them.
This Labor Day, let us recognize the generations who came before us, celebrate those building America today, and invest in those who will build it tomorrow.
In just a few days, the NHCA community will gather in Las Vegas for AVANCE Global 2026. It will be an opportunity to celebrate our growth, our businesses, our workforce, and our persistence—and to look toward the tremendous opportunities ahead.
To our members, partners, supporters, friends, and colleagues across the construction industry: we hope to see you at AVANCE.
We have a lot to celebrate.
After all, we didn’t just become part of America’s workforce.
We persist. We build. We contribute. We grow.
Sergio Barajas is the executive director of the National Hispanic Construction Alliance, where he leads the organization’s work to expand capacity building, access to capital, and business opportunities for Hispanic contractors and construction professionals. Over a 30-year career spanning housing development, construction, and financing, he has held roles with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Freddie Mac, the National Community Stabilization Trust, and the Los Angeles Housing Department. Based in San Diego, California, Sergio writes about workforce development, advocacy, and the role of the Hispanic construction workforce in building a stronger and more equitable industry.
Keep up with Sergio Barajas HERE!
