Featured Occupational Profile

Welder – NOC 7237

Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This unit group also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment. They are employed by companies that manufacture structural steel and plate work, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops, or they may be self-employed.

Average Salary

$ 45,000 – 55,0000

Educational Requirements (may be required):

Grade 12, College/Apprenticeship

Essential Skill Levels

Levels of complexity are a tool that measures the skills needed to perform a task. Example tasks for workers in a specific job are assigned levels ranging from 1 (basic task) to 4 or 5 (advanced task).

 

Employment Trends

Employment opportunities for Welders in the Wood Buffalo area are expected to be high through 2012-2013.

According to the census, there has been a slight decline in the number of people employed in this occupation over the past five years. Compared to other occupations, this is a relatively large occupational group in the local area. Most job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave their jobs. This occupation has an average age profile and retirements will not be an issue in the near term. The majority of workers in this occupation are employed in manufacturing, which is adjusting to the current economic situation.

Due to the large size of this occupational group, the majority of job openings will result from the need to replace workers who retire or leave. Employment opportunities for welders and soldering machine operators are dependent upon the activity in the manufacturing sector. An increase in the use of automated and robotic welding techniques in manufacturing will result in a slower employment growth for welding machine operators, despite an expected increase in production.

New technologies and techniques such as laser beam and electron beam welding, and new fluxes are improving the results of welding, making it applicable to a wider assortment of jobs. Manual welders, however, especially those with a wide variety of high level skills, will still be required for sophisticated fabrication tasks and repair work that do not lend itself to automation. Demand will be greater for skilled welders as opposed to soldering machine operators.

A Certificate as a journey person in not needed to start working as a welder but an apprenticeship is recommended.

Welder Age Profile for Wood Buffalo

Top Occupational Areas

Top Companies

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