AIA Expresses Concerns About Immigration Policy

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), in a recent press release, took a stand for “fair and impartial immigration policies” and noted “targeted immigration restrictions…can thwart recruiting efforts…[and] inhibit business activity.”

The following statistics further support AIA’s concern about the impact any newly imposed immigration or travel restrictions will have on the broader design and construction industry:

• Immigrant labor accounts for 23% of the total construction workforce in the U.S. (Source: U.S. Department of
  Commerce, American Community Survey)
• In 2015, billings by U.S. architectural firms for international projects totaled $1.6 billion. Projects in Middle East
  countries accounted for 18% of those billings. (Source: AIA Firm Survey Report, 2015)
• Half of U.S. large architectural firms have offices in the Middle East/North Africa, which is the largest reported
  share of international offices. (Source: AIA Firm Survey, 2015)
• In the 2014-2015 school year, 4,283 architecture students
  at accredited programs were nonresident aliens. This
  represents 18 percent of the total—up from 6 percent in
  2009. (Source: NAAB annual report)
• In 2015, 889 of the 6,348 total degrees (14 percent) were
  awarded to nonresident aliens. (Source: NAAB annual
  report)
• The AIA has 1,538 members licensed outside the United
  States.

— aia.org