Where are all the talented welders!!!???

[diamondfab]

Hey everybody, hope all is well. Just doing some venting. Over the past month i've hired 3 different welders with certs. All seem to weld fine on my pre hiring weld test but when they're out in the field the talent fades. Not to mention the whining and complaining of the cold and the mud. We work in Canada in the winter i hope its cold. have a small company of 5 solid welders that have been with me for 5 years but cant seem to get lucky with any new hires. Any business owners, supervisors noticed a trend lately of the lack of skilled welders. Post your comments this is driving me mental.

[aametalmaster]

YUP....SEE IT EVERYDAY...Bob

[Amc724]

First thought....

The pay is not attractive to the skilled guys.

It's winter time in Canada, all us skilled guys live in Texas.

[shovelon]

It's winter time in Canada, all us skilled guys live in Texas.

[diamondfab]

Working in the cold puts hair on your chest and in some cases on your back. My employees are pretty spoiled. The best of the best equipment and warm winter gear coming out the ying yang. I think some blame has to go to college welding programs and private trade schools. People get their tickets and think they're full rate welders. To me a cert from a school is your license to learn.

[jfk92]

..... a cert from a school is your license to learn.

I can't even begin to properly express how much I do NOT KNOW about welding......nor can I AGREE with you MORE on this statement...of ANY cert - regardless of profession.

Sounds like you are getting called upon to strap on that instructor gear and go produce an environment of better crew members which - is self benefiting at the end of the day after all. Guess you've also just learned (or been reminded) that you can't depend on others to produce to your expectations either.

[wickerdave]

Working in the cold puts hair on your chest and in some cases on your back. My employees are pretty spoiled. The best of the best equipment and warm winter gear coming out the ying yang. I think some blame has to go to college welding programs and private trade schools. People get their tickets and think they're full rate welders. To me a cert from a school is your license to learn.

I totally agree that the graduation certi is just the ticket to start really learning the trade from more experienced welders. BUT when no one will hire you because you don't have enough experience, how are you supposed to get the experience??

[eecervantes83]

Your either paying them to much, that its gone to their heads. (That's where the whining comes from) had a coworker last year. A machinist $25+hr. Had to have coffee and a cigarette every 1/2hr. Would complaint about everything. The foreman put him on probation & no smoking in the shop. Last I heard he's straight ad an arrow.
About the weld quality, if they ain't motivated to do quality. Welds. Have em grind the welds off and fix them. Make them aware. That below grade welds. Are not satisfactory. If this doesn't do it hire new help.
Also it sounds like your wrlders are working outside. As an employer give them a comfortable environment. ( thermal gloves, boots & overalls. Goes a long ways.

[Rezeppa]

It's not only welding. This trend goes on everywhere. I am in an odd age bracket of 22-25 I started welding and wrenching professionally when I was 16 so I have 8 years experience. I have seen so many guys come and go. No one wants to labor whether they are a welder, carpenter, bricklayer and so on. There is a overwhelming attitude of entitlement in the workplace nowadays. I am currently working for a smaller shotcrete / iron worker outfit in a rural area outside Detroit. I have noticed the Workforce in this small town is better than when I lived in the city bit not by much. In my opinion the problem is to much had been given away for free.

[willy]

It's not only welding. This trend goes on everywhere. I am in an odd age bracket of 22-25 I started welding and wrenching professionally when I was 16 so I have 8 years experience. I have seen so many guys come and go. No one wants to labor whether they are a welder, carpenter, bricklayer and so on. There is a overwhelming attitude of entitlement in the workplace nowadays. I am currently working for a smaller shotcrete / iron worker outfit in a rural area outside Detroit. I have noticed the Workforce in this small town is better than when I lived in the city bit not by much. In my opinion the problem is to much had been given away for free.

You hit the nail on the head - not just for the welding industry but for all. Entitlement - and giving everything away for free at the expense of others

Society and the government are turning people into a bunch of PU$$IES!