Is Welding a Good Career for Women?
Did you know that only 7.5% of welders employed in the U.S. are women? Something’s wrong with that picture. Especially when women can crush the career, finding it challenging and rewarding. Even if welding is often thought of as a man’s job, women have been at the profession for more than 100 years. When men go to war, women often fill their roles in factories across the nation, as was the case in WWI and WWII. Women welders may not be commonplace, but maybe they should be! If you want a hands-on, active, and creative job, welding might be the right fit for you.
Men and Women Welders Are in Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment in welding to increase through the end of the decade. As current workers retire or leave the industry, those positions need to be filled by skilled laborers. Add to those vacancies an aging infrastructure and a massive bill to fix it, and it’s easy to see why experienced welders are in demand. With the right skills in welding, you might find employment across a range of industries all over the country. Some locations to consider working as a welder include California, which ranks #2 for number of welders employed and Alaska, which ranks #1 for highest average income.
Advantages for Women in Welding
1. Calls for Diversity
Diversity in the workplace has become a hot topic over the past few years and many companies look to add underrepresented groups to their staff. Since the welding industry mostly employs men, qualified women seeking welding jobs may have an upper hand against their male counterparts. But you might also be well suited to the profession…
2. Better Balanced for Welding
Welding often requires lots of moving, bending, sitting, standing, and balancing. You might be high above on a steel girder or scaffolding while welding beams for a building, home, or bridge. Good balance will help you stay safe while you do your job. And studies show that women tend to have better balance abilities than men.
3. Steadier Hands
Whether you’re learning MIG welding or mastering the finer points of TIG welding, steady hands are an attribute that will serve you well. And again, studies suggest that women’s hands are steadier than men’s. Since one wrong move can mess up your weld, produce shoddy work, or even a workplace injury, those steady hands are ones you’ll want to take with you on a welding career.
4. Better Overall Health
Studies also show that women in welding and the electrical trades tend to take better care of themselves than their male counterparts. They’re more likely to wear protective face coverings that protect their respiratory health, and to follow safety protocol more than men.
Benefits of a Welding Career Path
Whether you’re a man or woman, a welding career has a lot to offer. You’ll want to hone your craft over time but learning the skills for entry-level work can be completed in less than a year. That means you can be out and earning a living once you have some skills. Welders are also needed across a variety of industries. Boats and bridges, autos and aeronautics –all need metal to metal welds. And your skills are transportable; take them to any state in the country! There’s even a creative side to welding where experienced welders use their off time to build practical items, like fences and furnishing, or artistic creations that adorn homes and landscapes.
Are you ready to take advantage of all that the welding industry has to offer? Contact Charter College today. We offer a Certificate in Welding that can prepare you for a new career in less than one year. You’ll learn from industry professionals who want to help you succeed. Classes are enrolling now. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.