We’re encountering the same kind of problems that happened when the Industrial Revolution began. Mechanization of industry has displaced thousands of workers just like it did with agriculture.
Even with more protectionist policies, we’d still see job losses in the Industrial sector, robots have supplanted the need of human labor. In fact, Industrial output has never dropped despite such job losses.
Figuring out what’s wrong is a lot easier than coming up with a solution, and I don’t have one.
Whatever the solution, foreign labor cannot be considered a part of it as you likely already know.
What if we were to try to free market. This isn’t the America it was just 30 years ago. It’s harder than ever.
Do you realize that OSHA and the EPA regulate local construction projects? I mean local rehabilitations of existing buildings.
On top of all the local regulations: permitting, licensing, zoning, and etc. (keep in mind that a Chicago alderman can put an indefinite hold on any project in their ward) you’ve got the FEDGOV monster to contend with. The fines are enormous and will put you out of business.
Competition thins your margins. Government comes in and inverts them.