Welding News Tidbits

See what’s going on in the global welding now!

It seems that welding training has been the talk of the town lately when it has thick coverage on recent news and updates about welding. Skills shortage in welding is the hot issue to be successfully tackled if enterprises want to grow higher with their business and industries that have involvement of welding don’t want interruption in their production process. Specially, the world is more favoring green energy sectors, which make welding skills much hotter. Obviously, the demand for them is increasingly high, but not otherwise. Let’s take some minutes to see what happens in the global welding now – rather, how welding job training is going?

1. New programs train inmates for welding jobs using grant

Seven offenders graduated from a new Work Ready Oklahoma welding program, and are now employable in the welding trade.

Six-week mobile welding programs have been given to offenders at Oklahoma City Community Corrections Center. This welding certificate program is the result of a partnership between Oklahoma Department of Corrections and local businesses and organizations, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor grant. On September 10th, 2015, seven inmates gathered to graduate from the welding program – the first of its kind in Oklahoma. They made up the first class in this new program, where they learned basics of welding, safety techniques and life skills as well. They were trained by local teachers, offered with space and equipment by local businesses, and got employment assistance from the local non-profit. This is considered a great opportunity for offenders to hone welding skills and reintegrate into the society. 

2. A private welding school opens in Fleming County

A welding school was founded by the Kentucky Welding Institute (KWI) in Fleming County on August 27th, 2015. Up to now, there have been space for around 20 – 22 students. The school has 20 student booths and 2 instructor booths. But as a result of high demand for the program, there expect 10 more booths after all. By the end of each program, students will be fully certified and qualified for their jobs. What set KWI apart is the portable program, environmental friendly atmosphere, the lifetime work guarantee and the brush-up opportunities.

3. New welding accredited certification at WKCTC is transferable

Transferable welding certifications are now offered by West Kentucky Community and Technical College 

The welding technology program in WKCTC (West Kentucky Community and Technical College) has become only the 2nd welding program in Kentucky Community and Technical College System, and the 4th state-wide to be accepted as an AWS Accredited Test Facility by American Welding Society (AWS)

The AWS Accredited Test Facility program develops minimum requirements for the test facilities, their personnel and equipment to test and qualify welding workers. Previously, students at WKCTC took welding certification tests. And when they become employed, they could prove about their capability of passing a certification test. Still, they could then be required to sit the same test for that enterprise. Now, if a student chooses to pay AWS $35 fee, he/ she will have his/ her name listed as a certified welder in the world-wide accepted registry of AWS. 

For companies, they benefit, too. In the past, when a candidate took the test, the results were held by the enterprises paying for him/ her to test. Now, the accredited certification is transferable from one enterprise to another. That means, when a person for WKCT walks in for a job interview, holding that certification, there is no need to pay for him/ her to be tested, which can be pretty costly for the enterprise: $300-$500.

4. Gateway providing introductory welding courses

Gateway will offer two welding introduction courses in September and October, 2015.

The one-day classes will be held on September 26th and October 3rd, 2015.

Gateway Community and Technical College will provide 2 welding introduction courses at its Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the Boone Campus in Florence – those are, Introduction to 1G Stic, and Introduction to 1G Mig.

Those courses are intended for mechanics, maintenance workers, farmers or anyone interested in welding. In 8 hours, participants will learn basic safety, machine set-up, and how to strike arc and stringer beads.

Introduction to 1G Stic will be held on September 26th, 2015, and the other on October 3rd, 2015. They are both from 8 a.m to 4 p.m.

Cost is $200 per participant per course. Participants take responsibility for personal protective equipment, inclusive of welding helmets, gloves, safety glasses, and any other required equipment.

The deadline to register for the course Introduction to 1G Stic is September 23rd, 2015, and for the other, the deadline is September 30th, 2015.

To register or for more information, you can contact Regina Schadler at 859-442-1170 or via regina.schadler@kctcs.edu.

5. Group bringing welding to the classroom

The Canadian Welding Foundation is looking to introduce the profession to high school students. Just about all other provinces already provide welding courses at the junior high and high school level though, no such program is accessible in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The foundation is now working with Skills Canada to find out ways to make welding more popular among young people in this province. Though a summer camp was provided in St. John’s for the girls this year, ultimately, the goal is a program that is more permanent. 

In some schools in Canada, welding is provided from grades 9-12; some offer it in every school, but there are still some that welding is available at a select few.

There is a shortage of trades around the nation, then to expose students to a profession at their young age couldn’t just spark their interest, but a career. Because the average age of welder is 59, there is going to be a serious shortage in the future.

For those who are interested in:

6 Best Ways to Address Shortage of Skilled Welders

Welding Skills Gap Presenting Opportunities to Employers and Skilled Workers

In Wake of Welder Shortage, Prisons Provide Training