Arc Labs Welding Education, Equipping, and Training in South Carolina
Arc Labs Welding Education, Equipping, and Training in South Carolina

Welding education, equipping, and training in south carolina

Facts & Figures

SECURITY: Automation is less of a threat to welders and welding machine operators than to other manufacturing occupations. Welding machines must still be operated by someone who is knowledgeable about welding and can inspect the weld and make adjustments.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

ADVANCEMENT: Welders can advance to more skilled welding jobs with additional training and experience. For example, they may become welding technicians, supervisors, inspectors, or instructors. Some experienced welders open their own repair shops.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Welding schools report that graduates have little difficulty finding work, and some welding employers report difficulty finding trained welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

FINANCIAL GOALS: The range of earnings of welders reflects the wide range of skill levels. Income in welding directly relates to your level of skill and training. In 2006, welders earned on average between $17.75 and $25.44 per hour.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Welders have excellent job opportunities as some welding employers report difficulty finding trained welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

SECURITY: Welding skills are the same across industries, so welders can easily shift from one industry to another depending on where they are needed most. For example, welders laid off in the auto industry have been able to find work in the booming oil and gas industry.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Employment of welding, soldering, and brazing workers is expected to grow about 5 percent over the 2006-16 decade.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Welding has grown significantly over the long term because of advances that have allowed it to replace other joining technologies in many applications. Thus, demand for welders is increasing in the construction, manufacturing, and utilities industries.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: The outlook for welders in manufacturing is far stronger than for other occupations.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

EMPLOYMENT: Two of every three welding jobs were found in manufacturing. Jobs were concentrated in fabricated metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, architectural and structural metals manufacturing, and construction.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

SECURITY: In custom applications, much of the work is difficult or impossible to automate. This includes manufacturing small batches of items, construction work, and making repairs in factories.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OUTLOOK: Retirements and job growth in the oil and gas and other industries are expected to create excellent opportunities for welders.

~ US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Announcments & Events

Manpower Warns of Global Labor Shortage in Skilled Trades


According to a new study by Manpower Inc., businesses, governments and trade associations need to work together to develop long-term strategies to alleviate talent shortages in the skilled trades. Worldwide, skilled trades positions are the hardest to fill, according to Milwaukee-based Manpower’s global Talent Shortage Survey of 35,000 employers across 36 countries and territories. In a new World of Work Insight Paper titled: "Strategic Migration - a Short-Term Solution to the Skilled Trades Shortage," Manpower warns that as the global economy recovers, it is necessary to implement strategic migration policies to create a mobile workforce and plug the gap of skilled workers.

In the survey, "skilled trades" refers to a broad range of job titles that require workers to possess specialized skills, traditionally learned over a period of time as an apprentice. Examples of "skilled trades" jobs include: electricians, carpenters, cabinet makers, masons/bricklayers, plumbers and welders.

The lack of skilled blue-collar workers could impede the progress of infrastructure projects and inhibit national growth - such as transportation in India and power in Brazil, for example. It is a problem that national governments must address for the long-term to foster economic health and fuel business growth. In the meantime, increasing the mobility of those workers can help ease the talent shortage.

"As the global recovery gathers pace, cultivating future talent and alleviating the shortage of skilled workers is becoming vital to ensure economic growth," said Jeffery Joerres, Manpower Inc. chairman and chief executive officer. "With unemployment high around the world, migration is an emotive subject but strategic migration will be necessary to create a global workforce and alleviate the current shortage. Countries should be developing policies which facilitate positive migration to fuel economic growth through providing skilled workers where they are needed, rather than creating barriers to immigration."

Joerres added, "Employers and governments need to bring honor back to the skilled trades. They must look ahead to forecast their future skill demands in this area and start working to alleviate this now. Unemployment levels remain high across the globe, particularly among young people, and providing training programs while working to promote skilled trades as a viable career choice could open up these jobs to a wider talent pool, as well as helping businesses tackle their shortages effectively and sustainably."