For years, the welding industry has been grappling with a problem. And that problem goes beyond dealing with swarf in your clothes and overly optimistic designs from draftsmen. It goes by many names, from “the labor shortage” to “industry attrition” and “the skill gap”.
No matter what you call it, here’s the situation: there are a lot of things that need welding and not enough skilled welders to weld them.
A huge percentage of manufactured goods, not to mention structures, installations, and even art rely on welding to exist. As a portion of the welders responsible retire from the craft each year, a shrinking number is taking their place.
We can’t claim to have a quick fix, a silver bullet, or all the answers. But, as tireless champions of laser welding, we’re hoping we can help.
Let’s Start with The Facts
How bad is the problem, really? It’s nothing insurmountable, we think. Let’s take a look at some numbers.
The American Welding Society (AWS) has taken the time and effort to publish some stats and projections.
According to the AWS there are 771,000 “welding professionals” in the US as of 2024. Here is their breakdown by age group:
These age ranges are nothing unusual on their own, although they suggest that the average welder is older than, say, the average software developer.
What’s more important is the trend in these figures over time.
The AWS believes that 159,000, or roughly 1 in 5, welders are approaching retirement. As more welders retire, or change careers, and as the industry’s needs increase, the AWS proposes that there will be a shortage of about 330,000 welders by 2028.
In other words, the “supply” of welders will be significantly lower than the “demand” for welders.
This problem is not unique to welding. According to a 2021 survey of manufacturers, almost 45% said they were forced to turn down business opportunities due to a lack of workers. More than 4 in 5 manufacturers listed attracting and retaining talent as their biggest challenge.
What’s Causing the Welding Labor Shortage?
An aging workforce and not enough new welders to replace them may explain the shortage mathematically but it does not address the actual causes.
Put simply, there has been a steady decline in interest in the trades, welding included, among young people. Let’s break down why.
Rising Focus on Going to College: According to a report by the Education Data Initiative, there are roughly twice as many college graduates in the US now as there were in 2000.
Many young people believe that a four-year degree is the best way to secure a comfortable and fulfilling future. This belief is often reinforced by parents, teachers, and common representations of successful people in TV shows and movies.
Negative Perception of The Trades: Highly physical jobs like welding are viewed as demanding and less safe than office jobs. Many young people also see manufacturing and fabrication as old-fashioned, technologically and culturally.
Beyond that, there is an unfortunate perception that the trades are for the unmotivated or the poorly educated. This is not true, of course, but the stigma exists.
It is also worth mentioning automation. Industrial automation is an exciting part of the future but it’s not all sunshine and roses. It is estimated that over the past two decades 1.7 million jobs worldwide have been lost to industrial robots. While few industries are immune from the effects of automation, potential entrants into the trades are understandably worried about job security.
Lacking Pay Rates: You probably don’t need to be told that welding can offer plenty of ways to earn an income comparable to jobs that require a degree. Or that many graduates have not secured the sorts of salaries they were expecting.
Still, there’s no sidestepping this one. Even if welding can pay excellently, that is not the reality for many welders.
Based on data from the AWS and the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national annual pay for welding jobs is around $50k. Entry-level welders can make considerably less – often roughly equivalent to other entry-level positions that require no degree or experience.
Amid rising costs of living, young people are increasingly turning to careers that they feel offer a more certain financial future.
Impacts to Businesses & Welders
With an awful lot of things to weld and fewer welders available to weld them each day, what are the expected impacts?
Increased Costs & Lost Business: Having fewer welders means that projects can take longer to complete. Longer projects cost more for everyone involved. Doubly so when the project requires welders with skills that are becoming more and more uncommon.
Even worse, shops that are stretched too thin are forced to give up jobs they could have otherwise taken on. This can further complicate cost issues.
Increased Reliance on Automation: Although automation is an excellent solution for many businesses, it is not the answer for every shop or job. Traditional industrial welding robots, for instance, are large, expensive, and not suited for high-mix low-volume fabrication.
Welding automation in the form of collaborative robot systems has been gaining popularity, however. Welding cobots offer a more approachable and flexible entry into welding automation by augmenting the productivity of existing human welders. It seems that, for many businesses, cobots help fill in the gaps created by the welder shortage.
Opportunities for Welders: As welders of all skill levels decrease in number, it is undeniable that both existing and new welders will become more desirable to employers. There is some data to back this up in the form of a survey performed by The WELDER magazine, although it remains to be seen how much welders can expect pay rates to rise in the coming years.
Still, it seems likely that welders will have many opportunities to distinguish themselves while shopping around for jobs that fit their standards.
How Laser Welding Can Help
Laser welding, a tried-and-true method in the world of industrial automation, has experienced increasing adoption for handheld use. Significantly easier to learn than arc welding methods, laser welding also offers excellent weld quality and virtually eliminates the need for grinding.
Despite its compelling advantages, laser welding is not a replacement for traditional welding methods but rather a way for welders and shops to enhance their capabilities. Here’s how laser welding fits into the welder shortage.
Reduced Barrier to Entry: Welding is not easy and even lasers can’t change that. But what laser welding can do is give novice welders the opportunity to lay down a halfway decent weld relatively quickly.
Besides cutting down on early discouragement, reducing barriers to entry helps novice welders get off the bench faster to provide value for employers. This reduces the relative costs of onboarding and makes the process of working up the ladder just a little bit smoother.
Of course, laser welding is hardly only for novices. For veterans, laser welding offers the opportunity to add another tool to their toolbelt, so to speak, and to be seen by employers as even more valuable. Laser welding might be easy to learn but it is also well worth mastering.
Increased Productivity: Nobody would be talking about laser welding if it didn’t bring significant productivity benefits. Besides offering greatly increased welding speeds, the quality of laser welds is undeniably excellent. And getting to skip finishing steps like grinding saves more than just sanity – it also lets you get more done.
The “Coolness” Factor: Maybe it’s just us but we think lasers are pretty cool. And coolness should not be underestimated – manufacturing and the trades can have something of a branding problem, often appearing behind the times compared to other industries.
Facilities and shops of all sizes have a lot to gain by implementing the latest tools and technologies. Whether that means embracing Industry 4.0 trends or welding with light, modernization does more than just improve efficiency – it also makes manufacturing careers more appealing.
The Future
Welding is in an interesting spot right now. The US needs welders more than ever but interest in the profession is waning. While this continues to put strain on the industry, it also represents opportunities for welders to distinguish themselves.
Perhaps some natural correction will occur over time, with societal biases and cultural influences reflecting more positively on the trades. But employers can help too by ensuring fair compensation and investing in new tools and technologies.
Ultimately, we are optimistic and we are convinced that laser welding can help, at least a little. Not just in the meantime as a way to get more done, but also as a way to make welding more exciting, more welcoming, and more modern.
In other words, we think the future of welding is bright.
