FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

Report of the MCAA Workforce Development Committee

Words: Adam Masterson

Skills USA

In June 2015 the MCAA continued it’s support of Skills USA. The Skills USA program moved this past year to Louisville, KY from it’s long time home of Kansas City MO. We look forward to our continued support of Skills USA.

NCCER Sponsorship Program

The MCAA closed its trial program in TN this past June. The program was ramping up nicely and in early 2015 the MCAA received word that the state was going to be changing their vocational program structure. Part of the plan was to combine many of the stand alone programs and combine them into a very limited program on each trade and offer them as a general trade program. As a result, the need for NCCER sponsorship in the masonry programs was going to be nearly non-existent. The MCAA made efforts to try and ask the state to reverse it’s decision, but was unsuccessful. This is turn created a vacuum for the grant the MCAA received from NCMA the previous year and the grant was stopped and the funds distributed to MCAA for the development of the program were asked to be returned.

NCCER Update

The rewrite of all three training programs through NCCER has been completed. In addition, there is a new program which should roll out soon which will allow for the mason who has been in the industry for years to test both a written and performance exam to give them a credential to show they have journeyman knowledge. We are excited to see this get rolling as it should allow for masons who never had formal training to show that they have the knowledge necessary to be on the job-site.

The Foreman Development Program

The Foreman Development Program will be held again in Las Vegas. We are looking to re-develop this and add and delete some new sections. One section in particular we are looking to add will be on the use of technology.
 0
From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Matt Dibara
Business Management
Read More
Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Read More
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More