American Welding Society - Careers in Welding
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There has never been a better time to be a welder. As the author of the recent Wall Street Journal article “Where Have All the Welders Gone As Manufacturing and Repair Boom?” describes, the nation is “literally starving for welders,” and employers are increasing salaries and benefits to entice career-minded youth to the field. Why? Well, nearly half of our nation’s welder workforce is due to retire soon. In fact, many already have. This has created an unprecedented demand for new skilled welders. What does this mean to you? Opportunities in the welding field are endless and can be extremely rewarding – and because it is widely used in construction, manufacturing, and many other industries, employers have a constant need for skilled welders. Welding is an important part of our nation’s growth and stability. In fact, for those who are involved in the welding industry, there is a strong conviction that a large part of the U.S. economy is dependent on welding, and that continued advances in the field help to drive this nation’s productivity and strengthen its financial stability. There is a multitude of career options in the welding industry. Whether you enjoy working with your hands, traveling the world, inspecting and analyzing things, working with numbers, communicating or inspiring others, there is a career opportunity available in the welding industry. And did you know that some welding careers require no welding whatsoever? But the big question is, is a career in welding right for you? 
But before making a decision to embark on a welding career, let’s look deeper into the profession. What is welding, anyway? Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts. In this process, heat is applied to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its strength, welding is used in shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and repair, aerospace applications, and thousands of other manufacturing activities. Welding also is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures, and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries. Other applications include the manufacturing of small electronic devices, medical components, and nanotechnology – the latest development to revolutionize the world of materials. Where is welding most commonly performed? Welding is all around you. Every day in thousands of shipyards, automotive assembly plants and construction sites, highly trained welders are working to build the structures and products on which the American economy depends. These professionals are behind the scenes welding the very backbone of industry and your world. Skyscrapers are welded. Cars contain hundreds of welds (yes, race cars too). Parts of the chair you are sitting in right now were probably welded. Oh, and did you ever think you could work for NASA? Well, guess how space shuttles are built? That’s right. Thousands of space shuttle parts are fabricated using various welding applications. And why be a NASCAR spectator when you can “get in the race” by welding with the vehicle repair and support team? Welders who know a variety of welding methods using a wide array of tools and procedures could find themselves working on oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, on top of the tallest buildings in New York City or on the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. Or maybe you would rather operate your own welding business. Well, with a welding career, it’s possible. Welding employment opportunities are diverse and skilled welders can choose from a variety of openings both nationally and internationally. If you plan to go to work right after high school, welding and joining technology offers immediate job prospects with potential for growth and promotion. If you’re college-bound and looking for a major field of study, consider welding engineering or metallurgy. So how do you get started? The American Welding Society is in the process of creating a handy guide to help you find local welding programs and explore career options. Here you will find valuable resources, such as student chapters, faculty advisors, AWS Districts and Sections, awards programs and scholarships, and much more. Check back soon for a downloadable version of this important resource. In addition, here are some other helpful sources of information about welding education and skills training:
Contact AWS American Welding Society 550 NW LeJeune Road Miami, FL 33126 Toll Free: (800) 443-9353 Fax: (305) 443-7559 Website: www.aws.org Contact AWS Public Relations Adrienne Zalkind 550 NW LeJeune Road Miami, FL 33126 Toll Free: (800) 443-9353 Direct: (305) 443-9353 Ext. 416 Email: azalkind@aws.org More
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