Dirty Jobs' Mike Rowe Discusses Welder Shortage - Gases ...

The welder shortage has been well documented within the industry, but does the average American know the opportunities that exist for welders? My guess is far more people know of the need for nurses or for science and math educators. Estimates are that there will be 238,000 new and replacement jobs in welding, welding engineering and related fields by 2019. In 2009, maybe, that seemed a long ways off; but now that it’s 2012, are we any better off?

GAWDA members are doing their part, as evidenced by photos of hundreds of students engaged by distributors in “The Image Of Our Industry.” The challenge that distributors and suppliers face is reaching out beyond the industry—beyond the welding labs and Vo-Techs, where the message has already reached—and reaching students who aren’t sold on welding and other skilled jobs as promising career paths.

Thanks to several sources on Twitter and Facebook, I came across this video of Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe testifying before the U.S. Senate on the need for skilled workers. He points out how disconnected we have become from the trades behind everyday conveniences like indoor plumbing, air conditioning, bridges and so forth. “I believe that we need a national PR campaign for skilled labor,” says Rowe, “something that addresses the widening skills gap head on and reconnects the county with the most important part of our workforce.”

Why care? The livelihood of the gases and welding supply business is only a small part. As you know, the country’s infrastructure—everything from transportation to energy—relies on skilled welders. To illustrate this, Rowe talks about the construction of a power plant that could not move forward due to lack of qualified welders. Some have criticized the rejection of the proposed Keystone XL project, which was projected by TransCanada to create thousands of jobs. But with a shortage of qualified welders across the country, how much pipe welding business would distributors really have had to look forward to?

Short of a national PR campaign, GAWDA members have an opportunity to drive change in their local communities. Distributors and suppliers have access to an incredible network of end-users, schools and manufacturers with resources for change. How can you reach young people about the message of welding? Share by leaving a comment or send me a message on Twitter to @GasWeldEdge.

When you have a few minutes, take a listen to what Mike Rowe had to say. It’s well worth the watch.