Why is housing in the U.S. so expensive?

Before 2008, U.S. developers were building around 2.2 million homes a year. Today, they are building just under 600,000 homes a year.

Economists estimate that we are 2 to 3 million homes short in order to house all Americans and bring home prices back down.

Building America is a multimedia project examining the impact of labor shortages in residential construction on the U.S. housing market and the role immigrants have played in keeping the industry afloat.

Home Builders Institute

90 percent of single-family builders reported a shortage in skilled laborers

Experts estimate that The construction industry needs approximately 723,000 new construction workers yearly to meet demand.

National Immigration Forum.

Currently, roughly 30% of the construction work force are immigrants.

  • Watch "What We Build"

  • Read "Building in America —- Is the Housing Crisis a Labor Issue?"

  • Check out "The Invisible Force Behind The Housing Industry"