With the Grimes workshop of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa as a backdrop, Gov. Terry E. Branstad proclaimed October Careers in Construction Month Wednesday morning in a brief signing ceremony.
“In Iowa we’re fortunate to have a strong construction industry,” Branstad said, “but every day, with every new project, that industry needs more skilled workers to join its ranks, and these workers need to operate in an environment that appreciates hard work and ingenuity.”
The governor praised apprenticeship programs such as ABC’s as an alternative to school-based vocational and technical training.
“Apprenticeships are one way that we make sure that those choosing a career in the construction field can be educated by the best,” he said. “While they learn, they can also earn a salary, and that’s one of the benefits. You don’t end up with a bunch of debt like a lot of college students end up with today.”
Shari Saunders, communications and marketing coordinator for ABC of Iowa, said the ABC Apprenticeship and Training Trust has more than 1,300 student apprentices in its 2016-2017 program. She said ABC of Iowa trains statewide in five main trades: electrical, plumbing, sheet metal, HVAC and insulation.
“Construction has provided fulfilling, family-supporting careers for American workers for generations,” Saunders said. “However, industry growth, an aging workforce and a lack of emphasis on the lucrative construction career track in our schools has contributed to a shortage of skilled workers in the industry. This shortage is projected to reach 1 million skilled workers over the next decade.”
She said ABC of Iowa is “committed to developing the next generation of American skilled craft professionals, as evidenced by our members’ $1.1 billion national annual investment in workforce development.”
Founded in 1950, ABC is a nationwide trade association representing the merit shop or non-union construction industry. According to its history, ABC was formed to promote “free enterprise and open competition in the U.S. construction industry.”
For more information about ABC of Iowa and the Apprenticeship and Training Trust, visit the ABC of Iowa website.
