Thank you 2024 Mission Partners
The Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association (HBA) is celebrating Careers in Construction Month during October to promote the rewarding opportunities available in construction trades professions.
“The residential construction industry is one of the few sectors where demand for new workers is rising,” said Mike Bails, Iowa City Area HBA president. “From carpenters and electricians to framers and roofers, the building trades offer a great career path.”
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), there were 208,000 open construction sector jobs during June, which marks the second highest monthly count of open, unfilled jobs since May 2007.
The Greater Iowa City Area HBA is involved in many efforts to engage young people in the construction-related skilled trades. These efforts fall under the Build My Future initiative. More specifically, the Iowa City HBA is:
>Co-sponsor of the Kirkwood Community College NAHB Student Chapter.
>In its second year of the Student-Built House Program, where high school and college students build a house for a nonprofit during the summer, receiving valuable experience and earning college credit.
>Co-sponsor of the Build My Future – ACE Construction Career Day & Industry Showcase. During this one-day event, junior high students get a hands-on opportunity to spend a day in the construction industry.
>Putting on summer camps for kids with Kirkwood Community College and Clear Creek Amana Middle School. Youths aged 10 to 15 learn basic carpentry skills and tool safety tips while building projects.
Parents, teachers, counselors and students are encouraged to take a close look at the career opportunities available in residential construction and understand that a vocational education offers satisfying career paths and financial gains. To learn more about the above opportunities, contact the Iowa City Area HBA at (319) 351-5333.