The Mission To Build Masonry’s Workforce

Words: Bronzella ClevelandConstruction Jobs: There’s Still a Labor Shortage - Fortune   Persistent Workforce Shortages Challenge Commercial Construction – U.S. Chamber of Commerce  Labor Shortages Create New Challenges – Masonry Advisory Council   Skilled Labor Shortage Intensifies Despite Economic Recovery – MASONRY Magazine  The United States has a building problem.   Construction costs are climbing, production is lagging, and businesses are struggling to survive because there simply aren’t enough workers to keep up with demand. The masonry profession is certainly not immune to this labor shortage; in fact, industry projections predict the situation will only worsen.   The urgency of the situation calls for an urgent response. Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is stepping up to the plate to lead this charge.  Founded in 1950, MCAA is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry – a mission inclusive of recruiting and training a workforce. To expand and support efforts to solve the workforce crisis, MCAA has aligned with XYZ University LLC, a generations-focused leadership consulting firm specialized in multi-generational workforce and employee engagement training.   This report marks the official kick-off of MCAA’s renewed focus on workforce development. Researched and written by XYZ University, the report explores the state of the industry’s workforce woes in greater detail and will be instrumental in helping MCAA develop a response plan, while also delivering useful strategies to masonry professionals who want to get a jump-start on planning their futures.   In addition to the research project, representatives of XYZ University will deliver an in-depth workforce and business strategy training at the World of Concrete 2019. For her book, Talent Generation: How Visionary Organizations Are Redefining Work and Achieving Great Success, author Sarah Sladek spent two years researching the highest-performing organizations with the highest employee engagement in existence today.  This training will focus on the key findings of her research, guiding participants through the process of adopting these six strategies in their businesses.   To register or learn more, visit MCAA’s Talent Generation: Tools to manage the 21st Century, multi-generational job site registration page.  Amidst all the challenges facing the masonry industry, it’s important to recognize there are unprecedented opportunities for growth. Companies that can evolve and innovate and educate themselves about workforce shifts are likely to successfully tap into this potential.     Sarah L. SladekHeather Thomton-Stockman CEO, XYZ UniversityResearch, XYZ University
Change Orders: Standard Operating Procedure
August 2026

In masonry construction, change orders are not occasional events; they are guaranteed. Drawings do not always match field conditions, specifications can conflict, and real-world construction has a way of exposing gaps in design. At DRP Masonry, we operat

RFIs: Clarity, Communication and... Hierarchy?
August 2026

In construction, any project starts with drawings. Plans. Schedules. Specifications. Whether we're talking about new construction, additions, or restoration, there is a plan, there is design intent, and a way every piece of a project needs to fit together

PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
August 2026

In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh