Our next door neighbor is a former contractor from California. Their family left a couple of years ago because of illegals. Homes are being built all over the USA with unskilled labor - many illegals being trained "on the job" with no supervision. Skilled workers are bypassed for illegals who work for minimum wage doing the work. Cracked cathedral ceilings, wallboard not taped properly, creaking floors, cracked foundations - yep, you may never pay attention to the defects, but rest assured a building inspector will find them when you are attempting to sell the home.
I was told by someone who has been in New Orleans twice since Katrina that illegals are doing construction work while locals sit and watch. They watch because they are on the federal dole and working (ie; drawing a paycheck) prevents them from receiving $$ without raising a finger. Guess it's easier for the State to issue welfare and unemployment checks than teach those who refuse to work how to rebuild their city.
And I still contend that the unemployment figures are low because they are denying many filed claims