It was once the norm that many people went to welding school, earned a basic certification, then sought a job. I commented on welding in #14 and really wonder how it has gone from a very desirable and high paying trade to one supposedly with a shortage of 500,000.
My son starts training at Tulsa Welding School in August. 7 months and he will be a Certified Master Welder. He is a talented welder already and has taken mostly shop classes during his Junior and Senior years in High School. While he could have a decent paying job right now, the Certification and ability to pass a variety of welding tests will bring his earning potential up several 10s of thousands of dollars. From what we are hearing TWS is almost 100% full. Kids are getting smart and taking the Tech School route, it will just take a few years for them to make it into the work force.
A welder can make upwards of $100,000 or more per year if they really hustle and put in the overtime. And the cost of training is less than $20,000. What I've observed is that many young men are put off by getting dirty. They want clean jobs.