Harris Industrial Gases - Welding Equipment & Supplies

In Racine, Wisconsin, the brainchild project of a local employer and a local technical college took 15 eager students and made them certified welders in an 8-week, 320-hour course. Click here to read the full Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article.

The graduates, some of them nearing 50 years old, can now look forward to a better life. The employer has all the qualified welders he needs and access to more as his business expands. The technical school eliminated its program waiting list and generated powerful reputational credit for being an innovator in meeting workforce demands, which will certainly pay dividends in its enrollment figures.

The silver lining to the current skilled labor shortage, as demonstrated here, is that the solution can be a win-win scenario. All the necessary ingredients are present: people who want a better life and are willing to work for it; companies with good jobs to offer skilled workers; and training programs to bridge the gap. All that’s needed are more creative and motivated “chefs” to get those ingredients into the mixing bowl.

Do you have a similar story to share about a company or training program finding unique ways to meet their business challenges? Or maybe you have an idea for another creative solution to the welder shortage. Either way, share it here.