Hispanic workers build nearly one-third of American homes. Their direct connection to real estate professionals could solve persistent housing market bottlenecks.

The Big Picture The National Hispanic Construction Alliance marks its second anniversary with a clear mission: connect those who build houses with those who sell them. The organization, an offshoot of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, operates at a critical juncture in the real estate cycle.

"Selling a home is a cycle," explains NHCA Executive Director Sergio Barajas. "A lot of times, homes either need repairs to be sold or need to be updated as soon as they're sold. We're there at that crossroads."

“"Education is power, and getting to know more about new construction or just the construction industry in general has really helped my brokerage educate our homebuyers" — Juan Sanchez, Denver chapter president”

Why It Matters **Hispanic workers now represent 31% of the construction workforce**, according to NHCA's 2026 report. Between 2018 and 2024, **they accounted for 67% of net new workers added to the industry**, a gain of more than 646,000 workers.

The concentration is even more pronounced in production roles. Nearly half of all general laborers and one-third of skilled trades workers are Hispanic. "They are essential to the operational backbone of the construction industry," says Henry Galeas, NHCA's director of operations.

Yet a leadership gap persists. Hispanic workers occupy only 15% of management positions and 13% of engineering roles. Formal education creates divergence: roughly half of non-Hispanic construction workers have completed some post-secondary education.

"Education is really a big barrier," Galeas notes. "That precludes them from promoting within the construction industry if they are not getting that more formal education."

NHCA's model addresses multiple fronts. It connects lenders offering renovation loan products — like FHA's 203(k) program or conventional renovation mortgages — with reliable contractors. "The biggest constraint for lenders looking to increase volume with these products is having a reliable conduit to contractors," Barajas explains.