The Guam Department of Labor announced that the number of H-2B workers on Guam has surpassed 6,000, the highest level seen in more than three decades, reflecting growing labor demand tied largely to the island’s military buildup and major construction projects.
Ronaldo Duque Acedo, a carpenter from the Philippines employed by Black Construction Corporation, was identified as the 6,000th registered worker. Acedo has worked with the company for six years and has traveled to Guam three times, contributing to projects at the hangar at Andersen Air Force Base and the machine gun range at Naval Base Guam.
“This is a turning point for the construction industry and signals Guam is ready to meet and sustain the growing demand for development and investment,” said Director David Dell’Isola. He said the department has streamlined processes, strengthened oversight and partnered with employers and federal agencies to support workforce needs tied to major projects.
Acedo said the wages he earns on Guam have allowed him to better support his family in the Philippines. Before coming to Guam, he worked in Riyadh in the Middle East earning about $500 a month, compared with roughly $700 a week now. In the Philippines, he previously earned about 150 pesos per hour, or about $2.50.
Despite the surge in H-2B workers, the volume of construction projects continues to exceed the available local workforce. According to GDOL’s September 2025 Current Employment Report, Guam had 3,740 U.S. construction workers, representing about 10.26% of the island’s workforce, roughly double the national per-capita rate of 5.2%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The department said it continues to promote registered apprenticeships, job training and upskilling programs for local residents to prepare them for long-term construction careers connected to the military buildup.
Guam residents interested in trade training can explore programs through the Guam Contractors Association, the Guam Registered Apprenticeship Program and the American Job Center Guam.