There are a number of reasons why welding is in such demand, including a growth in construction and infrastructure projects around the world coupled with ageing infrastructure that means existing structures may also need additional welding to be performed. Added to this is a growth in the manufacturing industry that requires qualified welders and technological advances that are seeing new techniques being performed. However, these industry explanations are not the only reasons why welding is in such demand at the moment.
There are also workforce factors, with many experienced welders reaching retirement, coupled with a relative lack of younger people entering the profession – particularly in more developed nations, like the United Kingdom and the United States.
A lack of information about welding as a career option as well as misconceptions about the profession has led to fewer young people training as welders, which is creating gaps in the workforce that need to be filled.
As a result of the need for welders, the outlook for those already in or considering entering the profession is good.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, expects growth in the number of welding jobs on offer, with increases of around 2% expected in the next decade. While this growth in the employment of welders is lower than in some other occupations, the current dearth of skilled professionals means that, in actuality, the job openings for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers are much higher. For example, the American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation expects welding to encounter a shortage of 360,000 welding professionals by 2027, meaning that some 90,000 welding roles will need to be filled each year from 2023 and 2027.
This trend is being seen in many other nations too, so let’s take a closer look at the factors that are affecting the welding job market.
There are a number of factors impacting the current state of the welding job market and creating job opportunities in the profession. The leading causes are a combination of industry growth and technological improvements along with an ageing workforce and a lack of young welders, which is driven by misconceptions about the industry.
The average age of welders has been a cause of concern for some years already, with 2018 data highlighting that average age of welders in the UK and Australia was 57. An active campaign to address the situation saw more young welders recruited and trained so that, in 2023, this average age had fallen to 40 years old.
AWS data states that 47.5% of all welders in employment are between 25 and 25 years old but, with 21.8% being 45-55 and 21.4% being over 55, there will be many looking to retire soon, leading to more job openings for younger welders. At the moment, just 9.4% of professional welders are under 25.
There is still a need to get more young people to train as welders, but a lack of information and misconceptions about the profession mean that it is seen as an unattractive career option for many. These misconceptions include ideas that the work is repetitive, underpaid and involves working in dirty and dangerous environments. Before we address these issues, let’s take a look at what types of welding job are in high demand…
Welding is an integral part of many different industries including automotive, aerospace, construction, shipbuilding, and oil and gas. Of course, many of these industries retracted during the global COVID-19 pandemic, with welding also being affected by the situation. However, since then, things have begun to normal and industries are growing once more.
Many industries are reliant on welding and growth in one industry often leads for welder job opening appearing in others, leading to welder demand and shortages in the workforce. Of all industries, manufacturing is the one that employs the most welders. It is also one of the fastest-growing market sectors, offering not just job openings but also opportunities to progress and advance your career.
There are a number of pros and cons associated with a career in welding. On the plus side, there is a wealth of job opportunities, diverse workplaces, the opportunity to travel, and competitive rates of pay. Welding is also a stable career option and the skills you learn can be applied to other industries, meaning that you can easily transfer to other roles elsewhere.
However, it is also a physical career that can be dangerous – however, this can be mitigated against by proper safety requirements, education and equipment. Of course, the higher the risk, the more you will be paid, with rig welders and underwater welders being among the highest paid welding professionals due to their working conditions. Such high paying positions can offer several times the average salary of more regular welding roles.
Technical advances in welding continue to open up new opportunities for jobs and training, but at the same time create a need for welders to attend events and undertake training to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. Of course, this could be seen as both a pro and a con of the career!
While a welding career will usually require you to be certified, so as to prove your skills and expertise, it is an easy profession to enter and doesn’t require a formal education to get started.
You can find out more about the pros and cons of a career in welding in this dedicated FAQ[TC1] .
Given the demand for welders, it is worth briefly touching upon routes to enter the profession, whether academic or vocational. Technical institutes, community colleges and private welding schools all offer entry level routes into welding direct from high school, while apprenticeships also offer a popular route into welding, offering on-the-job training and wages while you learn.
An ageing workforce, a relative lack of younger welders and increasing demands from industry have all worked to make welding an in-demand job. While this can mean difficulties for some organisations in finding and recruiting welders, it means a good situation for welding professionals whose skills are needed across industry.
This demand can be met by training more welders via welding courses and apprenticeships, while some large companies may wish to supplement their human workforce with welding robots. However, there are many jobs that welding robots cannot do, so skilled human welders are still required.
There is no doubt that welding jobs are very much still in demand.
Does Welding Have A Future?
Statistical evidence shows that the future looks bright for welders as industrial growth meets an ageing population of skilled welders and fewer younger people entering the profession currently. While some may fear that automation will replace welding jobs, this is not entirely the case, as there are many jobs that robots or cobots cannot complete, while humans will still be required to set up, programme, and inspect these machines. You can find out more about the question of welders being replaced by robots here.
Are Welding Jobs In Demand In The UK?
Welding jobs are in demand across the UK in a variety of different industries.
Are Welding Jobs In Demand In The US?
Welding jobs are in demand right across the United States for a range of different industries.