High Demand for Local Welders

There’s a shortage of welders in industries around the world because the workforce is aging.

Still, several area groups are teaming up with businesses to fight the problem locally.

Michigan Works!, Delta County manufacturers and Bay College’s M-TEC Center are getting together.

They’ve offered a welder training course this fall, and the 15 students graduated this morning.

Even with the U.P.’s economic struggles, they likely won’t have to wait long to find work.

The average age of an American welder is 54 and climbing, and manufacturers are having a hard time replacing them as they retire.

There were also 2 similar courses in Iron Mountain earlier this year to help Dickinson County employers out.