A future in welding - Part time?

[Wally in GA]

Seems that there are news reports of the upcoming shortage of welders. And I also have read that is not true, that many recent graduates are having trouble finding work. Like many things trying to find the truth is next to impossible but if a shortage takes place do any of you think companies will consider someone part time? Four hours a day or maybe 2 or 3 days a week?

[aametalmaster]

A mom and pop operation no prob part time. Big companies want you there everyday and not late and every Saturday too. Here in NE Ohio there are shortages everyone is hiring but some shops have big turnovers due to kids not wanting to work everyday or being late. I have see 50-60 guys come thru our shop just in the last year...Bob

[MMW]

The following is just my opinion & observation.

Shortages are localized. I have been hearing about the impending shortages in all trades for 30 yrs. now & never seen it materialize. By me I always hear that companies can't find good help. Then I ask about the pay scale & it is crap. No wonder they can't find good people. An example, plumbing outfit in NYC can't find any helpers or trainees, starting pay $10 hr. You can't live there on that or you couldn't commute there on that. Pay a decent wage & you get decent people.

Part time work? It used to be easy to find small businesses in manufacturing that needed skilled people & would hire you for maybe 20 hrs. a week. Now the regulations/insurance make that more difficult plus most small shops are gone, at least in my area or they hire non-American workers at a very low wage. So I would say unless you have a very special skill part time isn't going to happen.

[JMK WELDING]

I agree with Mic there's as place in Boonton N.J. that makes custom stainless products for the food industry. I applied for a job there and all they wanted to pay was $12.00 an hr for tig welders. No of the welders there spoke english.

[1930case]

When industry cries about a "labor shortage" that usually means "shortage of chumps who will work for free".

[Hardrock40]

you might find those hours if you search long enough. If you have temp agency's in your area they will look for you.

I wish they would outlaw those temp places but that aint gona happen. Sometimes you can get a foot in the door if you can put up with their crap.

No shortage of welders around here, just like the rest have said, you have to apply thru a temp service so they can get a big hunk of your pay. But a start is better than nothing, just plan on using them as a stepping stone to a better job.

[MMW]

Again just my opinion/observation.

20 years ago I could of walked into almost any small shop & picked up part time work, days or eves. They always had plenty of work & usually had a 6-8 week lead time on jobs.

I have seen hourly rates fall over the last ten years for most trade jobs. When working in a fab shop in 2001 as the lead fab guy I was making $21.25 an hour non-union. When the company closed it's doors in 2009 I was still making the same rate. In todays market, welding jobs listed in my area are $14-18 an hour. Maybe I could find something better if I wanted to travel an hour or more, no thanks. I can work for my self & it doesn't take many hours to make what I would if I worked for $15 an hour.

I see the same in other blue collar jobs as well. My son works at an auto resto shop, he makes 11 or 12 an hour. The top guys there make less than 20 an hour. Every crew I see, be it landscape, roofing, framing, etc is usually one foreman who knows a lot & the rest just take orders & couldn't do anything by themselves. This is the new business model I guess.

[JMK WELDING]

I agree with MMW. At my company they start you with $15.00 but you get $1.00 raise every year. Not a bad place to work. They pay total health coverage and after 5 yrs you get 3 wks vaca and 2 wks sick very hard to leave. This is a non welding job , I have my own side business welding and I could go full time but why. I make very good money and nobody wants to hire me for pt welding in northern jersey.

['Stang]

Seems that there are news reports of the upcoming shortage of welders. And I also have read that is not true, that many recent graduates are having trouble finding work. Like many things trying to find the truth is next to impossible but if a shortage takes place do any of you think companies will consider someone part time? Four hours a day or maybe 2 or 3 days a week?

I can't speak with any knowledge for the situation in your area. I live up here in Missouri. There is a shortage of skilled welders in this area. They are either good at stick, or good with mig, or tig! Someone who can do all three proficiently is a commodity!

I work at a Union shop where the emphasis is on aluminum. There is very little carbon and stainless used in our shop. We build petroleum tankers and have factories in four states. Our only welding process's are mig and tig.

Most of our welders come from the temp agencies. If they prove themselves for the 60 day trial-then they hire them. I started at $11.50 an hour. 11 months later I was at $17.37 an hour. That is great pay for this area! Our union (United Steel Workers) guarantees us a raise every 60 days.