Careers

CAREERS

With comprehensive formal craft training programs that set the standard in the construction industry, our building trades unions and their partner employers provide life-long career and advancement opportunities for those with the discipline and determination to have a direct impact on the future of our world. For those looking to do something financially satisfying and personally rewarding, the union building trades is the best career path you can take!

Interested in apprenticeship or growing your career as a journeyman? Contact us!

Apprenticeship: The Other Four-Year Degree

Apprenticeship is a path to a real career, with comprehensive training typically lasting 3-5 years. Apprentices receive a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction at state-of-the-art training facilities located throughout Iowa.

Apprentices learn a lifelong skill, obtain college credit and earn a salary with benefits and that begin the first day on the job, WITH NO STUDENT DEBT. Most Apprenticeship programs are affiliated with a college and apprentices accrue college credit, covered by the affiliated unions. After completing the Apprenticeship Program, there are many paths to follow, including Journeyman, Foreman, Safety Director and more.

Apprenticeship is a key pillar of the building trades. Our unions have embraced apprenticeship for hundreds of years.

Our training programs equip local men and women with the skills needed for lifelong careers.
Registered apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job training with related classroom instruction for a period of three to five years.
The union construction industry has privately funded Registered Apprenticeship Programs across the state.
These programs invest millions of dollars per year in training programs.
Apprentices earn-while-they-learn receiving excellent wages along with healthcare and retirement benefits.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Building Trades

The Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council is committed to expanding union construction career opportunities for women and people of color and advocating for diversity and inclusion in the union construction workforce.

We are proud to partner with the Iowa Women in Trades Network associated with University of Iowa Labor Center. The Iowa Women in Trades Network promotes leadership and peer networks among tradeswomen while developing programs to recruit and retain women in the skilled trades, including:

Monthly statewide meetings with skilled trades guest speakers
Actively recruiting women to Apprenticeship Readiness Courses
Mentoring discussions linking women journey-worker, apprentices, and preapprentices
Annual Statewide Women in Trades Leadership Summit