2006 Masonry Training Report Card

By Melissa Polivka

Over the next ten years, the US Department of Labor estimates that nationally there will be 19,000 job openings per year in the masonry industry.

This is a great time to be a masonry apprentice. Over the next ten years, the US Department of Labor estimates that nationally there will be 19,000 job openings per year in the masonry industry¹. As our nation’s population increases, demands on mason contractors for new homes, schools, and industrial facilities, coupled with restoration work on older buildings, will make any well-trained and dedicated mason a valuable commodity.

This environment will also welcome more minorities into the ranks of masonry employees, as women, Asians, and Hispanics are entering the workforce in numbers greater than ever before². The face of masons will be changing in the next ten years; the work site will look younger and more diverse.

In light of these changes, training has become increasingly important. For years the masonry industry has discussed the fact that many of our “veterans”, those with the skills and knowledge gained from decades on the job, are retiring. By 2012, the number of workers age 55 and older will increase almost 50%, going up to 20% of the total workforce population³. Students must acquire the experience of working side-by-side with our industry’s most valuable asset before they leave.

The Mason Contractors Association of America is contacting guidance counselors and educators nationwide to encourage students to pursue a career in masonry, and promote the training programs and apprenticeship opportunities offered throughout the country. Training opportunities exist in every state in America, and there is a place for every type of student. Classes range from small to large, newly-created to long-established, public and private. The common bonds between all of these programs are the instructors’ dedication to improving our industry, and the students’ desire to be a part of our enduring skilled trade. Educators at these training programs are employing innovative techniques in teaching masonry, and they are developing masons who graduate with the tools to advance the masonry industry far into the future.

For more information on how to partner with the masonry industry and offer a solid career for your students, contact the Mason Contractors Association of America’s Director of Workforce Development at 800-563-2225 or careersinmasonry@masoncontractors.org, and visit www.masoncontractors.org.

About the Author

Melissa Polivka spent time as the Director of Marketing, Director of Membership, and Director of Workforce Development for the Mason Contractors Association of America.

¹ Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2006-07 Edition
² Bureau of Labor Statistics 2002-12 Employment Projections
³ Bureau of Labor Statistics 2002-12 Employment Projections