American Welding Society Launches Initiative to Reach Younger Workforce
The number of skilled welding technicians and professionals continues to decrease, according to the American Welding Society. It is anticipated that by 2023, over 375,000 welders will be necessary to satisfy our nation’s workforce demands (Emsi, 2019). To impact this decline, the AWS has launched a new initiative targeting students and early career welders, titled “AWS Certified.” The AWS Certified initiative shines a light on the importance of obtaining AWS Certifications.
“Members of the welding community genuinely care about the technology and skillsets required to inspect welds and weld correctly, and they’re eager to learn more about the intricacies of their trade. Each AWS Certification they get is a badge of honor,” said Denny Smith, managing director, certification.
AWS is best known for the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) credential, and to date, there are over 40,000 CWIs worldwide. But AWS has 10 more certifications, each one focusing on a different specialty or career path that is critical in the welding industry. Other certifications include Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS), Certified Welding Educator (CWE), Certified Welding Engineer (CWEng), Certified Welding Sales Representative (CWSR), Certified Resistance Welding Technician (CRWT).
“Being AWS Certified shows you’re proud to be in this industry, and it requires you to master the skills that uphold our industry standards. It gives you credibility and respect among your peers,” stated Nate Bowman, director of welding optimization & education at Central Welding Supply. “Welding education is the key to success in the industry.”
Becoming AWS Certified also ensures that as the next generation of our welding workforce is developed, the integrity of how welding processes and procedures are performed will remain as consistent as our century-young organization, the organization said.
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