NRCA supports the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit
On Sept. 8, NRCA and partners in the Critical Labor Coalition sent a letter to members of Congress supporting an extension and expansion of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit on a bipartisan basis. The credit has a long-standing history of helping employers build stronger workforces by offsetting the cost of hiring individuals who have historically faced significant barriers to employment. The credit expired Dec. 31, 2025, and Congress has not reauthorized it for new hires starting in 2026. As a result, employers can only claim the credit for eligible employees who started on or before the expiration date. Although states may also accept and hold applications for employees who started this year, they cannot issue the certification until Congress takes action.
The Critical Labor Coalition letter provided historical context for the creation of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and reiterated the timeliness of reauthorizing it given current labor force participation trends. Specifically, the letter states:
“The nation needs WOTC now more than ever, as U.S. labor force participation is at its lowest rate in 50 years (excluding COVID-19 pandemic disruptions). With the mission of eliminating the U.S. labor shortage, CLC urges Congress to pass the Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act (“IEWOTC”) (S.3265, H.R.6231) and retroactively extend and expand this important incentive.”
View the full text of the letter.
The Critical Labor Coalition is a nonprofit organization made up of trade associations, employers and business owners dedicated to addressing the U.S.’ ongoing labor shortage. NRCA will continue working with its coalition partners to educate policymakers regarding chronic workforce shortages, which remain the top challenge facing roofing industry employers, as an aging workforce and other demographic trends make it more difficult to find qualified candidates for well-paying, family sustaining jobs.
Trade war with Canada ramps up
On Sept. 8, President Trump signed a proclamation that would ban the importation of certain alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles from Canada as a response to Canadian tariffs applied to certain U.S. products that took effect earlier in the day. The Canadian tariffs were a response to 50% tariffs on a broad range of Canadian goods announced by President Trump in July, which took effect Aug. 22 after negotiations between the two nations were unsuccessful in reaching a trade agreement. In addition, Trump announced modifications to the existing 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods, removing cement and other products while adding other goods.
These tariff changes will take effect Sept. 15, and the ban on imports will take effect Sept. 29. Although the amount of goods affected by these actions is relatively small compared with the broader North American economy, impacts on affected industries could be severe. The roofing industry does not appear to be substantially affected by these latest actions, but NRCA will continue to engage regarding trade developments in what appears to be an escalating trade war and provide further information as it becomes available.
Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador
Uncertainty surrounds whether the Trump administration will move forward with the termination of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador, which had been extended for 18 months in January 2025 by the outgoing Biden administration. Such action would be consistent with the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of TPS for numerous other countries since President Trump took office. A few hours before Employment Authorization Documents for many individuals from El Salvador with TPS were scheduled to expire at midnight Sept. 9, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted the following on its website: “Alert: An announcement on El Salvador’s TPS will be made at the appropriate time. Until such announcement is made, Salvadoran individuals present in the U.S. under TPS retain protection including work authorization.” Therefore, individuals from El Salvador with TPS are eligible to continue working until further notice from the government, but it is unclear whether that will be a few days, weeks or months. The announcement is an official interim continuation of protection but is not a formal extension or redesignation for a defined period. The government has not published a new Federal Register notice establishing an extended end date, re-registration period or automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents.
NRCA will continue advocating for short-term and long-term solutions for the hardworking individuals in the roofing industry whose TPS is in jeopardy and will provide more information to members as it becomes available. Employers with TPS employees should always check with legal counsel regarding the validity of Employment Authorization Documents and applicable expiration dates.
