The American Welding Society (the other AWS, not to be confused with Amazon Web Services) is marking the 10th National Apprenticeship Week (November 17-24, 2024) by urging manufacturers to expand apprenticeships to meet the demand for skilled welders.
“National Apprenticeship Week is an opportunity for us to invest in the future of our industry,” said AWS President Michael Krupnicki. “Through registered apprenticeships, we can address the skills gap and create rewarding, lucrative career paths through hands-on, paid training in welding, inspection, and automation.”
It’s got to help address what has become a critical labor shortage that is affecting manufacturing, steel building construction and holding back the spread of renewable energy infrastructure.
To assist employers in creating or expanding apprenticeship programs, the AWS Foundation has launched weldingapprenticeship.com, a resource for structuring training programs for welders, inspectors, and automation technicians. For further information on AWS’s apprenticeship initiatives, visit the official National Apprenticeship Week website or aws.org.
The American Welding Society (AWS), founded in 1919, is a nonprofit organization with over 65,000 members dedicated to advancing welding science, technology, and applications globally. AWS provides industry professionals with standards, certifications, and educational resources.
The AWS Foundation, as the philanthropic branch of AWS, supports the welding industry’s growth through career awareness, scholarships, and grants to institutions that offer welding education and training.
