How Industry-Education Collaboration Can Address the Welding Skills Gap Together we can change how Americans think about technical careers, engage new students, and fill in-demand jobs Every day, welding products and services impact lives across the country. Nearly everything we use, from the bridges we cross and buildings we work in to the cars we drive and the household appliances we rely on, is manufactured using some form of welding. It is estimated that welding contributes to half of the country’s gross national product; the welding industry is vital to our national workforce and economic competiveness (Ref. 1). However, the nation is facing a significant welding skills gap. The result of more than half of the welding industry’s experienced professionals preparing to retire — the average U.S. welder today is 55 — this skills gap will contribute to an estimated shortage of almost 400,000 welding professionals by 2024 (Ref. 2). Furthermore, this country is losing ground in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, in addition to basic skills like problem solving and critical thinking. Across the nation, businesses are looking not only for technical, job-related skills like welding, but also for communication, teamwork, and life skills. Engage Students with Hands-On Training To fill the skills gap with educated, qualified professionals, welding instructors and trainers (and instructors in other high-demand fields) need to use programs and technology that will engage today’s 21st Century students, provide them with hands-on opportunities to explore related career pathways, and train them efficiently and effectively. Such programs and technology can be found in career and technical education (CTE) programs. Across the country, CTE programs are combining rigorous academics with hands-on career training. These programs enable students to learn both academic skills and technical skills, such as welding, that they need to successfully complete high school, prepare for postsecondary education and training, and thrive in the future workforce. Career and technical education programs are the basis from which to build a skilled pipeline of workers and close the skills gap — and they are the result of collaboration between industry experts, business leaders, and educators. What Has Worked Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Mobile Manufacturing Lab is one example of a successful CTE program — Fig. 1. 52 WELDING JOURNAL / SEPTEMBER 2015 Fig. 1 — Welding industry experts can assist in the development of local CTE programs to ensure that programs reflect their specific needs, similar to the way in which Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley Technical College collaborated with Realityworks, Inc., to establish its Mobile Manufacturing Lab. BY TIMM BOETTCHER
Welding Journal | September 2015
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