The American Welding Society (AWS) said it received a $1 million donation for its Workforce Development Program from Miller Electric Manufacturing and Hobart Brother Co.
Miller and Hobart together made the pledge to support training for entry-level welders and more advanced training of current welders. The goal is to address the shortage of trained welders in the U.S.
According to research by the AWS, the average age of a welder in the U.S. is in the mid-fifties. By expanding the Workforce Development Program, AWS hopes to bring new employees into the field and avoid a continued skilled worker shortage.
The AWS was formed in 1919 as a non-profit organization to advance welding technology. The group has over 50,000 members.