Masonry Magazine October 2001 Page. 19
KEY ACCOUNTS CONCERNS
Key accounts have several major concerns regarding masonry construction. These concerns are the reasons why key accounts look to wood, metal, glass, tilt-up, and precast systems as alternatives to masonry construction.
Inconsistencies in pricing and lack of installer familiarity with various masonry systems raises further concerns for key customers. Key customers get confused when single-wythe exposed architectural unit masonry installation is twenty to thirty percent lower than multi-wythe construction in most of the country, but is priced ten to fifteen percent higher in some areas of the country. While there may be local justifications for such price differences, their reaction is that someone might be taking advantage of them. Key accounts, especially the "big box" stores, are desperately looking for mason contractors who are familiar with single-wythe exposed architectural masonry unit construction and can provide affordable quality masonry with the desired aesthetics.
AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF INSTALLERS
Key and national accounts have been alerted to issues about the future availability of quality installers to place masonry units in the walls of their buildings. About two decades ago it was reported that the average age of the mason in the United States was between 45 and 55 years old. This information was reported to generate a renewed interest in training and workforce development. However, it was also used by our competition to highlight a reason to consider alternative building materials and to demonstrate that masonry is a dying industry.
Today there may be shortages of quality installers in isolated areas, but over that last nine years about all the brick that could be generated have been. These brick have all been installed. This alone can be used to dispel any rumors about a shortage of masons.
More importantly, our industry reacted to these concerns with increased training and recruitment campaigns. The average age of the mason is lower. Generally the age is reported to be in the low forties or high thirties. In Northeast Ohio, Jim Darcy, Area Director of Market Development at the Ohio Area Office of the International Masonry Institute, recently reported the average age of the local union bricklayers to be thirty-nine years old. This age does not include the first year as a union member.
Table 1
Retirement Age = 62
Entry Age Average Age
18
40
22
42
26
44
30
46
Retirement Age = 65
Entry Age Average Age
18
42
22
44
26
46
30
48
In many locations people do not graduate from high school and enter the labor force. Often, due to advice and direction from guidance counselors and parents, graduates first seek alternative ways to make a living, involving less physical labor. Then the reality hits. The lights go on and there is the realization that in order to make money and develop a career you have to work for it. Thus people entering our industry are often in their mid to late twenties. Table 1 shows that average age of the mason retiring at both 62 and 65 years old based on the age when entering the trade.
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MASONRY OCTOBER, 2001 19