Fifteen years ago I got $15 ph as a carpenter here. The best you can get now is $10. I'm not an ex-con either nor are most of the young American guys who are trying to make a living doing what I did.
I’m certainly not saying that only ex cons can do construction work but often it is the only work they can get and now its difficult due to the work slowdowns and the illegal alien problem.
Your experience proves the point that the construction industry is most definitely NOT in need of guest workers.
All this reminds of a family on the next street over from where we used to live. They were a very hard working couple who worked like dogs. Their two boys did well in school. The problem was that the father worked construction. They had to go on public assistance during the winter months. I don't think he was highly skilled, and the mom worked at a care facility. Which is why they pushed their boys so hard.
I wonder how they're doing these days. These are good, hard working people....the ones who do the jobs that Americans won't do.