By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – In an effort to combat massive workforce shortages in the welding field, instructors at Louisiana Technical College River Parishes Campus are doing everything they can to encourage kids in high school to seriously consider a career in the industry.

“There is so much new technology in the field,” said Louisiana Tech Welding Instructor Chris Weber. “We know there are kids in area schools who want to pursue this career path, and we need to show them what lies ahead for them.”

With the help of Lincoln Electric, Bosch Tools and Airgas, Weber and his staff at the college held a welding seminar recently to show kids from St. John and St. Charles Parish schools what they might be in for should they decide to go into the field of commercial welding.

“There is a need across the board for welders, machinists, sheet metal workers, whatever,” said Weber. “These plants offer great salary, and steady work. It should be a slam dunk, but it’s not.”

Weber said that it has been so bad lately that some plants have even considered outsourcing jobs to people overseas.

“These companies want to avoid having to go overseas to find workers, but it has been a consideration.”

Rodney Landry, a representative from Turner Industries Group who was on hand for the seminar, said it has always been a struggle to get students from the River Parishes to work in the field because of resistance from parents and high school guidance counselors.

“Everyone wants their kid to go to college, work in an office, and not have to work too hard, but it’s just not where the money is,” said Landry. “We are not trying to change the way counselors do their jobs, we’re just offering an alternative to those kids who might not be as successful going to a traditional four year university.”

Weber said base salary for an entry-level welder is around $16 to $18 per hour. He said someone with multiple years of experience could earn well over $20 per hour.

Along with the need for employees, Weber said another reason to encourage kid’s interest is the new technology that is dominating the welding industry.

“The machines are getting smaller and much more computerized,” said Weber. “Machines are becoming connected to the Internet, and the computer can tell the operator if there is a malfunction, where it is, and how to fix it. These are the kinds of things we need to show kids now, so they understand it for the future.”

Weber said around 50 kids from four schools attended the event. The kids were given hands on access to a variety of welding machines, and were also allowed to try out various power tools.

Greg Spooner, maintenance instructor for Louisiana Technical College, said he hopes to see some of these kids in classes at the school in the future, but also wants to see them pursue jobs in the field.

“It’s not so much that we [the school] needs them, it’s that the industry needs them,” said Spooner. “The best way to get the kids into the industry is to come here. These plants are much more likely to hire someone who attends a school like this where they can get the extensive training we offer.”

Welding student Thomas Holley can attest to that assessment. He is a first semester student of Weber’s who came to the school to take advantage of the great opportunity.

“It’s a great line of work, with great pay,” said Holley, who was encouraged to get into the welding industry by family and friends who do it part time. “It’s very surprising to me that more kids are not getting into it. It’s a cleaner industry, there is more technology, and it’s a great job.”

Weber explained that he had taken Holley out to an Industrial Welding Show in Plaquemine to give him an idea of the state of the industry.

“I told him to look at the ages of the people at the show,” said Weber. “Most of them were in their late 40’s and early 50’s, and on the verge of retirement. I told him that young kids need to get into this because they are going to be needed soon.”