Women Welders: Companies in Middle East Keenly Sought for them

Women welders are in demand in Middle East because they are perceived to have some qualities that the employers find important.

Females appear to be hunted hard in the Middle East as they are deemed possessing some qualities that bosses find critical, said Joel Villanueva, General Director of Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda, Philippines). 

According to the official responsible for overseeing the country’s technical and vocational education, women are considered meticulous. They are also a pretty serious type. As said by Villanueva, one  reason why women welders are in demand in Middle East is while men often go out at night, women will come back to the dorm after their work. The men are out whilst women fall asleep.

Those from Middle East have been one of the biggest recruiters of Filipino women welders. 

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Women Welders of Past and Present: Figures and Facts That Will Blow You Away

Whether they are in the past or present, women welders have been amazing as the way they are.

Hard work is another name of miracle. Women welders make miracle with their torch and great efforts (Photo cr: craftedincarhartt.tumblr.com)

There is none of word more persuasive than words of facts. Follow below figures and facts about women welders, and you may, will, or sure will be impressed by how active, strong and excellent they are in the past and the present. Who think girls cannot weld? Then think again!

1. From 1940-1945, 50% of women entered the workforce. 100% of women were in manufacturing; 400% of women worked in defence plants; 39% of female workers were in aircraft industry while this industry hired 61% of men. Obviously, from the past, women were already very active in skilled trades, including welding. 

2. Rosie the Riveter is such a trendsetter, encouraging more women participation in shipyards and factories during World War II. During WWII, over 310,000 women had jobs of welding, engine repair, riveting in the US aircraft industry.

Petrina Moore was a Cherokee Native American. She was a welder at the Todd Hoboken dry dock in New Jersey (Photo cr: Alfred Palmer, 1943)

First women to achieve rate of Electric Welder, 3rd class, were Alyce R. Sawyers (left) and Josephine L. Hollingworth (right), in 1942. US Navy Yard, Mare Island

An African American female welder from Kaiser shipyard (Richmond, California) during World War II (Photo cr: Dorothea Lange, 1943) 

Female welders in Richmond, VA

War industry in Britain 1939-1945: The saddle of a 25-pounder gun being welded by Miriam Highams. She was hired for engineering work  from Women's Land Army due to her pre-war factory experience (Photo cr: Ministry of Information)

3. Some women aren’t suitable for welding, but equally, there are lots of men unsuitable for welding, either.

4. Though there are still males that don’t want or like women in welding, a number of men are considering that women can do well this job. Current laws are protecting females from being harassed, and a man can be in big trouble if crossing the line. 

A woman with 5G welding pipe

5. Unlike the end of World War II, women are now keenly sought for relieving the severe shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing; welding isn’t an exception. As per a survey on 1,100 manufacturing executives, during 2010-2011, 30% of women workers were involved in manufacturing while male workers were 70%. Women filled 25,000 jobs in manufacturing while men 230,000 jobs. Women are reported to more satisfied with manufacturing jobs than men.

Melanie Henderson, 20 years old, a sub arc welder at CS Wind Canada, gears up for a section of the tower for a submersive arc weld. (Photo cr: cleanenergycanada.org)

6. Naturally, women welders often have patience and steady hands, which help out a lot with their weld quality.

Braze welding (Photo cr: Elizabeth Larsen)

7. Welding is listed in jobs that women are paid higher than men. As per 2013 statistics, men in welding are paid averagely $1653.30 while women are paid 30% more ($2156.50).

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Women in Welding: 10 Interesting Facts that You May not Know

Interesting facts about women in welding to see more about how women welders have been doing in that man’s world.

For those who are concerned about:
Should I Hire Women Welders (Part 1)
Should I Hire Women Welders (Part 2)

Women in welding have been truly one of a kind in the male-dominated field like welding. With great efforts, resilient mind, they have made miracles from when the world hit hard with the war storm to the world peace. Just like eternal flowers, they brave storms and shine out over the sun. 

1. Women kicked off welding careers from World War II.

Women were active in the storm of war

During World War II, over 310,000 women had jobs of welding, engine repair, riveting in the US aircraft industry.

Women have been pursuing welding careers since World War II. To relieve the serious shortage of workers during the war, many manufacturing plants turned to women. They filled the seats left by the men serving. While doing the job men left behind, they still played a good role as moms and wives!

2. Women welders do a lot for space industry

Veronica Gonzalez – a welder at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), has welded pieces for the astronaut jet-packs.Other women welders have been employed on air planes and space shuttles. They often make wonderful welders due to their size. Their small build can be a good fit into spaces that larger people have to give in.

3. During World War II, men training welding for women was part of the national defence program in USA.

World War II propaganda photograph (US)

4. Women just hold for 5% of welders in the US.

In the mist of increasing need of certified and skilled welding workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor estimate a 15% rise in welding occupations by 2020.

5. By nature, women have two important qualities in welding – those are, patience and steady hands.

6. Women welders with higher creativity than men can create many arts of life. They have been the creative input for your welding manpower.

7. An increasing number of women are viewing welding as a good, lucrative career choice. Indeed, there are more and more women aspiring to welding career, as reported by many welding schools. They have seen welding as a rewarding, secure occupation that would be good for their families and themselves. This is also the good news for the employers when they have more seats to fill and a limited number of welders available to occupy them. This trend would make a good time for women to start their proper vocational training and education in welding.

A broad sky for willing women welders! (Photo Cr: Women Welders Facebook)

8. Welding can be challenging and stressful to women though, there are not few feel that it’s not any more pressured than past careers they have followed. If women know what job demands they will address and are ready for handling hard work and long working hours, the welding environment won’t be that tough. Let alone, the benefits from welding career significantly outweigh its demands and stress. With the open door for years, a higher number of women are choosing welding as their career.

Welding is a hard work though, it is much rewarding, too (Photo Cr: Women Welders Facebook)

9. Amid higher number of women entering welding world, many manufacturers of welding safety gear have made welding gloves, aprons, jackets that fit the women’s size and body. This also comes with a new customer base that safety clothing enterprises can make use of to reap rewards.

10. Along with women engagement in welding jobs, lots of companies have adjusted their belief of welding just for men. Indeed, women are quite competent of producing any weld type of quality that men can do. What they are asking for is just to be offered the chance to prove their skills as good, even better than male welders.

How beautiful steadfast women welders are! (Photo Cr:Women Welders Facebook)

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Should I Hire Women Welders (Part 2)

There are both upsides and downsides to hiring women welders…

See also:

Should I Hire Women Welders (Part 1)

Downsides of hiring women welders

While there are certain advantages that drive you to hire women welders, especially in mid of welder shortage. Still, there are some downsides you should consider before decision-making.

You should hire women welders for many reasons though, there are some problems you should consider, too.

1. Working in a male-dominated environment, your women workers should be do the best they can. Otherwise, it is difficult to endure the hardship here. If you decide to choose them, check their willingness to learn and to accept challenges in the interview and probation aside from testing their skills.

2. If you have an excellent, young female welder in the welding shop, there is also some problems you and she may face. She will find it difficult to tell the experienced, older men that they are not using the right rod, they are welding out of range, others. You know, they are constructive ideas though, it is uncomfortable to work with such a just-too-perfect welder. Then clever strategies from you should be employed. For example, help your women welder along the way. Let her make small mistakes, but prevent her from making the big ones.

3. It is safer now to work in the welding shop. Still, for women, especially those with visual sensibility, they will have hard time accepting burns, or the like. If they aren’t afraid of them and have ways to minimizing such cases, you will have excellent workers. They will know how to protect themselves and accomplish their tasks. 

4. The discrimination isn’t that serious. Still, depending on where they work and whom they work with, the different treatment will be zero, low or high. You, as a stellar manager, should have good regulations related and penalty for any violator. 

5. When it comes to pay, there is something that may concern you. For example, you will think of paying women welders as high for avoiding anything called discrimination. Still, as a fair boss, you should clarify the pay scale and bonus that lines up with the skill, capability, experience, performance, and productivity. Make them fair and then there won’t be any blame.

Stay tuned for part 3 with tips for beating downsides and promoting upsides!

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Should I Hire Women Welders? (Part 1)

There are both upsides and downsides to hiring women welders…

See also:
Should I Hire Women Welders (Part 2)

In such a male-dominated trade as welding, women welders are often considered a brave solider who accept toughness, danger, and frustration. But it doesn’t mean that this job experience is not rewarding and fun, even a thousand times more rewarding than other trades. Acting as a stellar employer who knows how to let the upsides beat the downsides, you will be immensely benefited from recruiting women welders. 

Should I hire women welders?

Upsides of hiring women welders

1. They are often more hard-working than men

They may not be the best all the time though, never ever are they the laziest. Women welding workers are often diligent and show can-do attitude. Once they are willing to pursue what set fire in their heart and mind, they will accept sweaty, dirty, and probably burns and cuts at some point. 

2. They are awesome

They are just so amazing for words. They are strong, of course. They are steadfast, of course. They are sacrificing, of course. They are respectable, of course. They are really good welding workers, of course.

Working in a tough working environment with all guys around is not always easy. Still, women that accept to enter this battle and conquer it are just so awesome. Who don’t want such a physically and mentally strong, dedicated, passionate and diligent worker?

3. Some of them are the best welders

Some of them are, no doubt, the best welders with all their sacrifice and efforts. It must take lots of courage to leave things familiar with them and become cool at a new environment with such problems that are kind of alien, or obsessive to women as dirty hands, burns, worsened skin, among others. Once they accept those things, they don’t want to give up and strive to attain rewarding things to make up for their sacrifice. 

That’s why many of them are the best welders with certifications, skills, experience, and moving on their career. 

4. They are skilled

It is a pity that there are not enough women in such trades as welding, electric, plumbing.  No matter what their sizes are, every women working in the welding field are generally great, especially with TIG. For those who don’t super at TIG, it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with them. They will follow you off the ends of the earth and be willing to learn and skill up if you take them under your wing.

To say nothing about the current trend that women are more educated than men, and they can be a master at work with their hard work, talent and smartness. 

5. They  complement your workforce

If you’re worried about welder commitment, it will be a good idea to have women welders in your human resources. They will help uplift the working environment, motivate other welders.

Male welders are universally more satisfied at the workplace with some women fellow workers. Gender differences, especially pertaining to communication, often are the cause of interesting conversation and much laughter. That’s not all, the gender differences make the workplace less boring and just lively like a colourful flowers, which is specially needed in the pretty tedious workplace like welding shops. The differences are, indeed, reflected through the thought processes, giving orders, expressing feelings, tackling problems, achieving goals, giving feedback, asking questions, etc. For example, while men are often more direct when giving feedbacks, women are more tactful and sensitive. Both men and women are devoted to attaining goals, but they do so in different fashions. Men are often more focused on the result, and tasked oriented. Meanwhile, women shed more focus on the process toward accomplishing the goals, and they are often more people oriented. That why a workplace with both men and women will be more interesting, harmonious.

Helpful information for those who are interested in:

7 Easy Ways of Motivating Your Welders

6 Sure-Fire Ways of Motivating Your Unskilled Welders

How to Retain Your Experienced Welders

6. Welding work is much safer than in previous years

There are significant improvements in equipment, engineering, procedures, training for mitigation of injuries. Welding shops these days are not an absolutely safe place for women though, it isn’t definitely a too dangerous one.

7. Discrimination is not that serious

As far as different treatment, the younger male welders at many welding shops treat the female ones well. And most of the older ones are be fine, too. Also, it should be noted that welders are often terrified of the superiors, then they won’t dare to cross the line.

It will be much better if your female welder gets her certification. It would be a shame that men don’t respect a woman. Even if they aren’t willing to respect her, they will have to respect her certifications. 

On a more positive note, many male welders are extremely kind to the female. The younger view women welders as their respectable senior while the older view them as the daughter or the like. They are golden, treated with respect. Once your female welder treats others as she wants to be treated, she will get the same.

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