Global welder shortage: how can industrial companies maintain project delivery?

The shortage of qualified welders has become one of the key constraints for heavy industry, energy and infrastructure. This is a long-term issue driven by structural factors rather than temporary labour market fluctuations.

At the same time, more and more companies are showing that a change in the project execution model can help maintain a stable pace of work despite limited workforce availability.

How severe is the global welder shortage?

Data published by the American Welding Society indicates that:

• there are currently around 771,000 welding professionals employed in the United States,

• by 2029, approximately 320,500 new workers will be needed,

• on average, around 80,000 positions need to be filled each year.

This means that even with a stable level of industrial investment, the market requires continuous workforce replenishment.

In Europe, industry analyses indicate shortages reaching several hundred thousand welding specialists. Similar trends can be seen in Canada, where further growth in demand for qualified technical trades is also projected.

This shows that the problem is not local in nature. It affects most developed industrial markets, and companies executing tank and steel structure projects increasingly need to take it into account already at the planning stage.

Why is there a global shortage of welders? Main causes of the shortage in industry

The causes of the welder shortage are structural and cannot be quickly reversed through isolated recruitment efforts.

One of the key factors is an ageing workforce. AWS indicates that more than 157,000 welding professionals in the United States are approaching retirement age, which further increases pressure on the labour market.

Another issue is the limited inflow of younger generations. As shown by Canadian government materials, technical trades still face certain social stereotypes, while at the same time there is a growing need for initiatives that increase young people’s exposure to skilled trades career paths. That is why educational, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes are becoming increasingly important in many countries as a way of building interest in technical professions.

Another important factor is matching workers to the locations where demand for their skills arises. As EURES materials show, many companies in Europe are now competing for workers who are willing or able to take up jobs where they are needed, which is particularly visible in occupations related to construction and engineering trades.

How does the welder shortage affect industrial and tank construction projects?

For companies executing tanks and steel structures, the shortage of welders is no longer just an HR issue. It is a factor that directly affects costs, schedules and execution safety.

The most common consequences include:

• rising labour and overtime costs,

• difficulties in maintaining project schedules,

• increased risk of delays and downtime,

• quality and safety pressure resulting from working under time pressure.

The traditional tank construction model, based on large teams working simultaneously at heights, is particularly vulnerable to workforce shortages. Any rotation of personnel can have a direct impact on execution speed.

How does the Nordweld system reduce the impact of the global welder shortage on project execution?

The tank building system offered by Nordweld responds to workforce shortages by changing the organisation of the construction process rather than replacing welders.

The system is based on top-down construction technology:

• key work is carried out at ground level,

• the structure is lifted and rotated using a mechanized system,

• the need for scaffolding and work at heights is reduced.

In practice, this makes it possible to carry out projects more efficiently, with a smaller team working on site at the same time. This is particularly important when the availability of qualified welders is limited, because it reduces the project’s sensitivity to workforce shortages.

An additional benefit is greater predictability of the entire process. Better work organisation and reducing the number of operations performed simultaneously at heights help maintain continuity, improve quality control and make better use of available human resources.

The welder shortage does not disappear, but its impact on schedules, costs and continuity of execution can be significantly reduced.

Summary

The global shortage of welders will remain one of the key challenges for companies executing industrial and tank construction projects. In this situation, what matters more and more is not only access to qualified workers, but also the way the entire construction process is organised. Solutions that make better use of available resources, reduce the risk of delays and increase execution predictability are becoming a real competitive advantage.

If you want to find out how to reduce workforce-related risk, improve execution predictability and better prepare your tank construction project for current market conditions – contact the Nordweld team.