No, es.  Builders would raise prices if they could.  Why wouldn't they.  As long as they can make more money they will both raise prices and increase pay.  Now, additional factors beyond elastic markets may be at play.  For example, builders face a cyclic market.  While there is demand now, there may not be in a year or two.  There may be a reluctance to raise pay when experience tells builders that the demand won't last but the raises will.  Yet another factor is the influence of unions.  Unions don't like competition, they may work to prevent expansion of the work force thinking that existing workers may be more likely to be laid off if the work force is expanded.  Brook's conclusion about immigrant workers does not even consider all the factors at work in construction.