If you own a construction company or run a manufacturing plant, you already know the biggest problem. You cannot find enough workers. Every day, you see project deadlines slipping away. You see contracts you cannot take. The Dignity Act of 2025 might be the answer you are looking for. This new law could change how you hire workers from other countries. It could also help the workers you already have. Let us look at what this means for your business.
The Labor Crisis in Blue-Collar Industries
America needs more blue-collar workers. The numbers are shocking. The construction industry alone will need over 500,000 new workers in 2024 . The Associated Builders and Contractors say we will need 439,000 more workers in 2025 . Manufacturing is no better. Between 2024 and 2033, the U.S. will need 3.8 million manufacturing jobs. But 1.9 million will stay empty because there are not enough workers .
Where are these workers? Many are immigrants. Immigrants make up 30 percent of all construction workers . In California and Texas, that number jumps to 40 percent . In some trades, the numbers are even higher. Sixty-one percent of plasterers and drywall installers are immigrants . More than half of all roofers and painters are foreign-born .
But here is the problem. Many of these workers do not have proper papers. Nearly 1.6 million undocumented immigrants work in construction . This creates big risks for you as an employer. You could face fines. You could lose your best workers to deportation. The current system is broken. It does not work for you, and it does not work for them.
The H-2B visa program was supposed to help. But it only allows 66,000 workers per year. In 2018, construction companies could only hire 5,756 workers through this program . That is nothing compared to what we need. The EB-3 visa is another option, but it takes too long. Workers from some countries wait 10 years or more . Your business cannot wait that long.
What Is the Dignity Act of 2025?
The Dignity Act is a new bill in Congress. Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Veronica Escobar introduced it in July 2025 . It has support from both Republicans and Democrats. More than 50 national groups now support this bill . These groups include employers, small businesses, and construction industry associations .
The Dignity Act does two main things. First, it makes the immigration system stronger at the border. Second, it creates new ways for workers to come legally. For employers like you, the most important parts are about legal immigration and employment verification.
The bill has three main sections that affect blue-collar employers:
Border Security: The bill spends money on border barriers and technology. It also changes how asylum works. Asylum seekers will get decisions in 60 days instead of waiting for years .
Mandatory E-Verify: All employers must use a new electronic system to check if workers can work legally . This will replace the old I-9 forms. But you will have time to get ready. Big companies with 10,000 workers must comply in six months. Small companies with fewer than 20 workers get 24 months . Agricultural employers get even more time .
Legal Immigration Changes: This is where it gets good for you. The bill does several things:
- It raises the number of green cards each country can get from 7 percent to 15 percent .
- It stops counting spouses and children against the visa cap . This means more workers can come.
- It creates a way for workers waiting more than 10 years to pay $20,000 for faster processing .
- It protects children of visa holders from “aging out” .
The bill also creates something called the Dignity Program. This gives undocumented workers a way to get legal status. They must pass background checks and pay $1,000 per year into a training fund . This money will help train American workers.
How This Helps Your Blue-Collar Business
The Dignity Act could solve your biggest headache: finding workers.
First, it gives legal status to many workers you already depend on. The construction industry has 1.6 million undocumented workers . If these workers can get legal papers, you can keep them. You do not have to worry about losing them to immigration raids. You do not have to worry about fines. You get a stable workforce.
Second, it creates more visas for new workers. By not counting family members against the cap, the EB-3 visa becomes more useful for your business. You can sponsor skilled tradespeople more easily. Welders, electricians, and plumbers can come through the EB-3 program. The process will be faster because more visas are available.
Third, the American Worker Fund helps train your current workers. The $1,000 annual fee from undocumented workers goes into this fund . It helps train American workers for better jobs. This means you can promote your good workers and hire new ones for entry-level jobs.
Fourth, it makes planning easier. The Construction industry needs long-term workers, not just temporary ones. The H-2B visa only gives nine months . Then workers must go home. The Dignity Act focuses on permanent solutions. Workers can stay and build lives here. They become reliable employees.
The bill also makes the visa system fairer. Right now, workers from India and China wait decades . The new 15 percent cap per country helps fix this. You can get workers from more places. This gives you more options.
What You Must Know About E-Verify
The E-Verify requirement is the part you need to prepare for most. Here is what you need to know:
Timeline: You have between 6 and 24 months to start using the new system . The timeline depends on your company size:
- 10,000+ employees: 6 months
- 500-10,000 employees: 12 months
- 20-500 employees: 18 months
- 1-20 employees: 24 months
Agricultural employers get 30 months . If you have 50 or fewer employees, you can get a six-month extension .
Process: You must verify all new hires through the electronic system . You must sign a paper saying you checked their status. If the system says someone cannot work, you must fire them.
Penalties: The fines are going up. If you knowingly hire undocumented workers, you will pay more . There are also new fines for giving false information to the system .
Cost: The system itself is free. But you will spend time and maybe money on training. You might need to hire help to set it up.
Many business groups support E-Verify because it is a trade-off. In exchange, they get more legal workers and a stable workforce . The National Association of Home Builders endorsed the Dignity Act because it helps solve labor problems while protecting American workers .
The Dignity Program: A Path for Your Current Workers
The Dignity Program is maybe the most important part for you. It helps undocumented workers get legal status.
To qualify, workers must:
- Have lived in the U.S. since before January 1, 2021
- Pay all back taxes
- Pass a criminal background check
- Pay $1,000 per year for 10 years
This is not citizenship. It is not amnesty. It is a way for workers to earn legal status . For you, this means you can keep your best workers. They can get driver’s licenses. They can travel. They are not afraid.
The $1,000 annual fee goes to the American Worker Fund . This fund trains American workers. It helps solve the root problem of the labor shortage. This is good for everyone.
What You Should Do Now
The Dignity Act is not law yet. It is still in Congress . But you should prepare now.
First, start getting ready for E-Verify. Find out which timeline applies to your company. Train your HR staff. You can learn about the current E-Verify system at uscis.gov.
Second, audit your current workforce. Know who might qualify for the Dignity Program. Help them gather documents. This keeps your workers and shows you are a good employer.
Third, think about your future hiring needs. Which positions do you need most? Could the EB-3 visa program help you? The Dignity Act will make this easier, but you still need a job offer and labor certification.
Fourth, contact your representatives in Congress. Tell them you support the Dignity Act. Tell them why it matters for your business. You can find your representatives at house.gov and senate.gov . Business voices matter. The more employers speak up, the better chance this bill has.
Looking Ahead
The Dignity Act of 2025 is a chance to fix a broken system. It gives you the workers you need. It gives workers the security they want. It is good for business and good for America.
The construction industry needs 439,000 more workers in 2025 . Manufacturing needs millions more over the next decade . American workers alone cannot fill these jobs. Immigration must be part of the solution.
This bill balances enforcement with opportunity. Yes, you must use E-Verify. Yes, there are penalties. But you also get legal pathways to hire workers. You can keep your current workforce. You can plan for the future.
The time to act is now. Prepare your business. Support the bill. Tell your story to Congress. Your voice matters in this debate.
If the Dignity Act becomes law, it will change how blue-collar employers hire forever. It will make your workforce stable. It will make your business stronger. It is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction.
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