is the welding field too saturated atm?

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specifically in ontario or canada in general, but usa info is good too, just wondering if there is way too many welders out there and not enough jobs to an extreme degree where there is just too much competition out there to bother getting all into the welding field, taking courses, etc
Reply:In the US before the economy slowed there were a couple of articles stating that the average age of a welder was either 54 or 59 years and that there was already starting to be a shortage of skilled welders.  Even Jay Leno was involved with the AWS in making a video to promote welding as profession.  Back three years ago when I applied at the place I'm working at now I called them and left a message.  I got a call back within 1/2 hour asking me to come in a take a weld test and then before for I knew it I was in orientation.  Things are a little slow right now and I haven't worked in a couple of weeks but I'm hopeful that things will pickup soon.  I do think it would be a great time to go to school right now because by the time you are done it should be picking back up.
Reply:its the same situation here in australia, the average tradesman is getting older and there haven't been enough younger blokes starting apprenticeships to fill the void in the near future. in the past couple of decades many chose jobs in the service and technology sectors rather than getting into trades, and its starting to show in a serious lack of skilled labour.
Reply:Stamp hit it on the head with "skilled" labor.The labor is there, but most of them stink.  A big part of this problem is that it's nearly impossible to get rid of the bad welders on jobs these days due to poor performance because of all the human resources hurdles you have to jump over.  I live that nightmare on a daily basis.  There is definitely a major shortage of qualified welders in this world.
Reply:We need people in the trades. That being said, there is no shortage of unskilled welders pulling the trigger in a so called fab shop making ten bucks an hour.I mean no offense to the very skilled mig welders on this forum. And yes, there are hacks making welds with every process but there are very many companies out there 'training' unskilled folks with no welding ability.I hope I did not open a can here....Again, no offense to the skilled pros here.UA Local 598
Reply:I agree with Hughes and everyone else for that matter. It seems that, at least here in the states, kids are/were being told go to college don't work with your hands, get a nice deck job and it seems like it is almost ingrained into kids these days that if they DON"T go to college they are a loser even if their life takes them into military service or a serious trade school or apprenticeship. No college...must be a looser.This is definately not the case. I tell the high school kids I deal with that they need to get education after graduating high school. Whether that education is at a university, state college, trade school, apprenticeship, or military training get yourself educated and trained to do something.I think society has put a dark cloud over the trades and any kind of work that you might get dirty or use your hands to do. I think we as educated tradespeople need to help change that mindset. We are not a bunch of drunk, drugged up loosers who CAN'T do anything else...we just don't want to do anything else but work in a skilled trade.'Mike
Reply:coming through skilled trades programs when I graduated at age 22 I had no trouble finding work, 7 job offers before I graduated. Now I take a jobs all over the world.  It's a little different since I'm a welding engineer but I'm still a certified welder and regularly teach welders and perform difficult PQR's and welds when needed.still to this day I get job offers on a regular basis.  Things are stagnant right now because of the overall economy, but there is and will be a shortage of a whole host of skilled trades workers in the coming years as kids have been pushed away from it.   I have seen some bounce back though as the spirit of do-it-yourself has seen more and more people pick up welding machines for the first time and get interested in pursuing it as a career.
Reply:When I started welding, there was a shortage of q'd welders so I went to school and became one. Then a few years later when all the boom jobs slowed there was a glut of welders so people had to retrain or find other occupations. I think we have come full circle and once again are experiencing a shortage of good welders with a desire to work and do the best that one can. With the coming "O" age and the way there has been little new industrial construction which translates to " we are going to have to spend some money soon or get behind" there will be a great demand for highly trained and highly skilled tradesmen.  Do what mom recommends and stay in school. My 2 cents + 3 more adjusted for inflation.SA200,Ranger8,Trailblazer251NT,MM250,Dayton225AC,T  D-XL75,SpoolMate3545SGA100C,HF-15-1  RFCS-14 When I stick it, it stays stuck!
Reply:Originally Posted by ironman715I agree with Hughes and everyone else for that matter. It seems that, at least here in the states, kids are/were being told go to college don't work with your hands, get a nice deck job and it seems like it is almost ingrained into kids these days that if they DON"T go to college they are a loser even if their life takes them into military service or a serious trade school or apprenticeship. No college...must be a looser.This is definately not the case. I tell the high school kids I deal with that they need to get education after graduating high school. Whether that education is at a university, state college, trade school, apprenticeship, or military training get yourself educated and trained to do something.I think society has put a dark cloud over the trades and any kind of work that you might get dirty or use your hands to do. I think we as educated tradespeople need to help change that mindset. We are not a bunch of drunk, drugged up loosers who CAN'T do anything else...we just don't want to do anything else but work in a skilled trade.'Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by mooseyeWhen I started welding, there was a shortage of q'd welders so I went to school and became one. Then a few years later when all the boom jobs slowed there was a glut of welders so people had to retrain or find other occupations. I think we have come full circle and once again are experiencing a shortage of good welders with a desire to work and do the best that one can. With the coming "O" age and the way there has been little new industrial construction which translates to " we are going to have to spend some money soon or get behind" there will be a great demand for highly trained and highly skilled tradesmen.  Do what mom recommends and stay in school. My 2 cents + 3 more adjusted for inflation.