Where Did All the American-Born Roofers Go?
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- In 1976, Matthew Moore joined the roofers' union in Orange County, California, beginning a blue-collar career that allowed him to buy a home by age 21 and enjoy outdoor work.
- Moore's experience reflects a time when well-paying union jobs supported a strong middle-class economy, a trend that has largely disappeared in recent decades.
- Since the 1970s and 1980s, the construction industry has seen a significant demographic shift, with the share of foreign-born workers nearly doubling compared to other sectors.
- This change highlights broader economic and social transformations impacting blue-collar work and the American workforce.
