Since 2011, the Careers in Welding Mobile Experience has traveled nationwide, stopping at state fairs and other major events and reaching thousands of students and career seekers. Each stop offers a hands-on look at what welding careers look like today—and where they can lead tomorrow.

Presented by the AWS Foundation and co-sponsored by Lincoln Electric and BuildSubmarines.com on behalf of BlueForge Alliance, this 53-foot mobile exhibit is open to students, educators, families, and anyone curious about welding as a career path or hands-on skill.

“We’re excited to be back on the road and connecting with new audiences,” said Andre Mosley, Workforce Development Specialist at the AWS Foundation. “This experience shows just how many directions a career in welding can take—and how accessible those paths can be.”

Welding plays a role in nearly every part of modern life—from infrastructure and transportation to energy, defense, and manufacturing. At the same time, demand for skilled workers continues to outpace supply. WeldingWorkforceData.com reports that the U.S. will need more than 320,000 new welding professionals by 2029.

Inside the trailer, visitors can:

• Try virtual welding on a Lincoln Electric VRTEX® 360 simulator.
• Learn about training options, career pathways, and earning potential.
• Explore how careers in welding support industries ranging from infrastructure and transportation to energy, defense, and aerospace.
• Discover how welding impacts the military and defense industry through BlueForge Alliance on behalf of BuildSubmarines.com.
• See standout exhibits, including the “Metal Maiden” sculpture.
• Compete for a $1,000 scholarship awarded daily by the AWS Foundation to the top virtual welding score.

Since launching in 2011, the Careers in Welding Mobile Experience has traveled nationwide, appearing at major events and reaching thousands of students and career seekers each year.

Check out the entire 2026 tour schedule, to see upcoming, confirmed tour stops.

About AWS: The American Welding Society is the worldwide authority in the development of standards, certifications, and educational programming for the welding, allied joining and cutting community. We are a not-for-profit organization committed to connecting the welding industry to our extensive collection of resources, informing our community of technological advancements and developing the next generation of welding professionals with the help of the AWS Foundation. AWS serves over 60,000 members worldwide, is composed of 22 Districts with 250 Sections and Student Chapters, and includes more than 1,500 volunteers in over 200 technical committees, subcommittees and task groups. For more information, visit the American Welding Society's website at aws.org.

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About AWS Foundation: Founded in 1989, the AWS Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Welding Society, the nonprofit organization with a global mission to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes. The AWS Foundation works to ensure the growth and development of the welding industry through various initiatives, including career awareness, scholarship programs, and grants to institutions that offer welding education and training. As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we rely on the generosity of our partners who understand the value of welding and its role in building a better, stronger economy. aws.org/foundation.