Construction firms added jobs in 39 states from July 2013 to July 2014 and in 34 states from June to July, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the employment gains are good news, but that the pipeline of skilled craft workers, supervisors and other employees appears to be emptying rapidly.

"The overall trend in construction employment has been very consistent in 2014, with more than three-fourths of states adding jobs each month on a year-over-year basis," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "However, growing numbers of contractors say they are having trouble finding skilled workers or subcontractors that can supply such workers."

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The 15th Annual Construction Golf Classic & Smoker is being held today in West Des Moines at the Glen Oaks Golf & Country Club.  The event continues to sell out year after year and brings together construction colleagues from throughout the state to participate in the MBI-PAC's top fundraising event.  This year saw a near sell out in sponsors for the event as well!  We would like to thank the following sponsoring companies for their support of the MBI-PAC and the construction industry!!!

Corporate Sponsors

Holmes Murphy & Associates, Inc.

Merchants Bonding Co.

Skold Companies

Terex

Event Sponsors

Architectural Wall Systems Co.

Beisser's Inc. Lumber Company

Performance Contracting Inc.

Record-USA/Rogers Automated Entrances

Cigar Sponsor

Brown Winick Law Firm

Beverage Cart Sponsor

King's Material Inc.

Lemonade Sponsor

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Hole-in-One Sponsors

BTC Capital Management - Bankers Trust

Star Equipment Ltd.

Hole-Challenge Sponsors

American Institute of Steel Construction

Construction Heaters, Inc.

Rathje Construction Co.

Stetson Building Products Inc.

Hole Sponsors

AJ Allen Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

Allied Construction Services, Inc.

Automatic Door Group, Inc.

Baker Group

Bush Construction Company, Inc.

Edge Construction

Forrest & Associates Inc.

Heartland Finishes Inc.

iSqFt

Johnson Machine Works, Inc.

Knutson Construction Services, Inc.

LMC Insurance & Risk Management

McComas-Lacina Construction Co. LC

Midwest Builders' Casualty

Neumann Brothers Inc.

Newton News

Northwest Steel Erection Co., Inc.

Premier-Xerox

Reynolds & Reynolds, Inc.

TSF Structures, Inc.

Weitz Company

Wells Concrete

Wells Fargo

West Bank

Whitfield & Eddy, PLC

The 2nd Annual MBI-PAC Sporting Clay Builders' Classic will continue on the great MBI tradition of bringing together industry colleagues for a day of construction camaraderie.   Like the Construction Golf Classic and Smoker, Sporting Clay Builders' Classic will be for the benefit of the MBI-PAC and our continued efforts to support pro-business, pro-construction policymakers.

There will be two separate events: the Eastern Iowa event at Highland Hideaway Hunting in Riverside on Thursday, September 25th and the Central Iowa event will be held at the New Pioneer Gun Club in Waukee on the next day, Friday, September 26th. 

CLICK HERE for more information and to register. 

The Master Builders of Iowa is committed to offering essential education and training opportunities for every employee on your team. Well trained and educated personnel work efficiently and are more productive thus enhancing job performance and increased productivity. This planner of educational and training opportunities outlines the core topics that most contractors find popular within the industry.

CLICK HERE to view.