Page 3 - Hobart Institute of Welding - Fall 2020 World of Welding

Who gets the job and who doesn’t get the job?
Welding Jobs 1980-2020- 40 years of change - not so much.

Welding jobs data today is provided
by many reliable sources such as the
American Welding Society, Bureau
of Labor Statistics, BurningGlass,
EMSI, Employer Contact, Higher
Education, etc. One thing that has
always been the constant is welding
jobs are plentiful with high demand
due to a major shortage. These
welding jobs all require a high skill
set and strong soft skills. Here is a
look at some data provided to me by
the American Welding Society with By Scott A. Mazzulla, President
special thanks to Gary Konarska, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
AWS Executive Director and CEO for
sharing some data:
It is projected the U.S. will need over 375,000 welding 1. Poor scholastic record, low grades without reasonable
professionals by 2023 to fill job openings in the U.S.- this projection explanation
includes factors of economic growth, retiring workforce, career 2. Inadequate personality- poor attitude, lack of poise, lack of
advancement of the workforce, and advancement in technology self-confidence, timid.
impacts. (Source- EMSI, March 2020).
3. Lack of goals/objectives- poorly motivated, does not know
In the past 12 months, there have been over 100,000 job postings his//her interests.
requiring the skill of welding (Source BurningGlass, July 2020).
4. Lack of enthusiasm, lack of drive, not sufficiently
Exploring skills that are in demand across industries and employers, aggressive.
the skill of pipe welding or “pipe welders” are popular. Over 30,000 5. Lack of interest in our type of business, lack of interest in
job postings in the past 12 months for pipe welding skills were our company, not interested in the type of job we have to
reported in July 2020 (Source BurningGlass, 2020)
offer.
According to EMSI, over 65% of the currently employed workforce 6. Inability to express him/herself, i.e. poor speech.
in the identified six occupations (Boilermakers; Sheet Metal
Workers; Structural Iron & Steel Workers; Structural Metal 7. Unrealistic salary demands, more interested in salary than
Fabricators/Fitters; Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers; in opportunity, unwilling to start at the bottom.
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators & 8. Poor personal appearance, i.e. careless dress.
Tenders) are 35 years or older. (Source EMSI July 2020)
9. Lack of maturity or no evidence of leadership potential.
So with all these jobs available, it can be a very competitive
situation, so who gets those jobs and who doesn’t? 10. Lack of extracurricular activities, inadequate reasons for
not participating in activities.
Last year (2019) I had presented a message about what Employers
Want vs. What Welders Want. It was a study of the HIWT job 11. Failure to get information about the company; a sheer lack
board mass of 371employers posting 2,100+ positions looking to of preparation for the interview, did not read the literature.
hire our graduates. The messages were clear: employers want 12. Objects to travel, unwilling to relocate.
applicants to Pass a Drug Test, possess the ability to pass a weld This is quite an extensive list but many of the 12 items listed back
test, and be dependable. From there, employers choose who gets in 1983 still hold true today. My 2019 study showed that 2019
the jobs and who doesn’t get the jobs based on other criteria. HIWT Graduates placed the most importance on more money,
Looking back to see how welding job requirements have evolved, career path, and longevity.
I came across a 1983 Article from Career Choices from the North The HIWT Career Development Team and our Education Staff
Carolina State Occupational Information Center and the North are champions in making sure our students are best prepared
Carolina Balance of State Private Industry Council. This was a for want industry wants and needs. But as you read most of the
study of 186 companies then, and they were asked which most responsibility is on the student/job application themselves.
often cause the company to not hire the welder.

www.welding.org - 3 - 2020 FALL ISSUE
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