Page 12 - HIWT Winter 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

THE SKILLS GAP: PERSPECTIVE FROM THE NEXT GEN

By: Mikayla Bradford “Severe shortages of highly skilled manufacturing
professionals could develop into a national problem during
this decade as U.S. manufacturing output expands and today’s
Today almost anyone experienced machinists, engineers, CNC operators, and
can walk into a metal other skilled workers move into retirement.” And according
fabrication shop or to Inc. Magazine, welding is one of the industries that has a
walk onto a jobsite and threatened future.
see the clear-as-day
age difference between I am proud to say that my shop mates and I are the next
workers. Even with generation of welding. Things are always going to break,
the machinery you can buildings and highways and bridges will always be expanding.
see an age difference. So who will do it? The answer, we will. It is said that by
While half of a shop is 2020 this skills gap will be filled. With more and more kids
stuck in the old ways graduating from technical programs, the future looks bright.
of paper work and file
Mikayla Bradford, a senior student of cabinets, the other half Going to Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School
Neil Mansfield’s at Assabet Valley RTHS is fixed on computers I have been blessed with the opportunity to be certified in
is also working at Auciello Iron Works in and drop boxes. This different types of welding and different positions. I still
Hudson, MA
is because of what is remember being a young freshman and passing my 1G stick
called the “skills gap.” welding test. My freshman class had the most certifications in
There are over 600,000 jobs in the manufacturing world that the history of Assabet that year. It just comes to say “Look out
cannot be filled because of lack of qualification. It is a rising world, the greenhorns are coming!” and we are hungry and
problem in our nation, due to older workers wanting to retire, ready to work.
the number of jobs that need to be filled
continues to increase.

Growing up as a young girl and a third
generation welder, I always knew I
wanted to go to a technical school and
learn a trade. My grandfather had a down Our international
certifications
and dirty, makeshift, basement shop qualify you to
and a driveway full of equipment and work worldwide
gas bottles. Growing up in that kind of and year-round.
environment conditioned me for who I am Offshore diving
today. If it wasn’t for the fascination I had opportunities include the
with twisting and bending filler wire into inspection, installation,
little stick figures and holding a piece of and repair of offshore
shade glass over my eyes while I watched oil drilling platforms
my grandfather weld, wondering how it all and pipelines.
Inland opportunities
worked, I wouldn’t be the hard-working include construction,
young adult that I am. There’s a lack of repair and inspection
“want to work” in kids and teens my age. of bridges, water towers,
They all are absorbed in the latest cell nuclear power facilities and
phones and are afraid to get their hands countless other infrastructure.
dirty. Everyone wants that desk job where
hard work isn’t required. Our graduates are
in high demand.
All training is conducted
Welders and fabricators are a rare breed, in open water.
their own kind, in a way. There’s a common Financial aid
thread for the love of metal and the love of for those who qualify.
hard work. Use your VA benefits
with us.

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