Welding careers play an integral role in keeping people safe and advancing the quality of life across the globe, yet participation in welding and other skilled trades continues to decrease. Since 1996, the American Welding Society has designated the month of April as National Welding Month to bring awareness to the welding industry and its available career paths.
The welding community is vast, and AWS is dedicated to supporting the industry technicians and professionals that work at our shipyards, automotive and appliance assembly plants, pipelines, construction sites and other industries on which our economy depends.
“National Welding Month is an annual opportunity for the welding profession to show the world that we are more than torches and sparks,” said Cassie Burrell, Senior VP, Marketing & Membership Development. “Welders have to understand shop mechanics, blueprint reading, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry, and metallurgy. The more technological advances our industry undergoes, the more skills and knowledge we need to do our jobs successfully.”
To celebrate our vast and diverse welding community of technicians, inspectors, supervisors, engineers, manufacturers, distributors, educators, committee volunteers and students, we have a variety of events planned throughout the month. These include:
Take The Torch: Anyone 18 years of age or older who becomes a member of the American Welding Society throughout the month of April has a chance to win a customized AWS welding helmet through our Take the Torch program.
My Welding Story on Instagram: Every welder has a story to tell. Throughout the month, AWS will highlight stories from those in the welding community and share how welding has shaped their lives. If you’d like your welding story to be considered, fill out the survey at aws.org/myweldingstory.
Arc Junkies Panel Discussion on Instagram Live: The Weld Wednesday with AWS podcast is going live. Join us on April 6, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. EST on AWS Instagram Live where Arc Junkies host Jason Becker and his special guests will discuss “What Does the Next Generation of Welding Look Like?” This is a can’t miss event!
New Series! Metal America: Starting in April, Join Stephanie Hoffman on her trip throughout the country for our new Metal America series, as she visits metal fabricators to explore some of the industry’s most unique careers.
AWS ARCademy continues to add new how-to videos on our YouTube channel that provide a basic understanding of welding processes and related topics for welders looking to polish their skills. Sample topics range from how to use common workshop tools and how to understand welding symbols, to the top five mistakes to avoid in TIG, MIG, and stick welding.
Monthly Updates from CEO Gary Konarska, II: The welding industry is constantly evolving, and “business as usual” is becoming a thing of the past. AWS President and CEO, Gary Konarska, II, will be sharing his thoughts on important topics the welding industry faces each month on the AWS LinkedIn channel.
NEW COMMUNITY – Welding Projects on AWS Member Network: A new community where AWS members can share photos, videos, and stories of epic welding projects they’ve seen or been a part of, as well as those that fell short of amazing. From professional welding projects to fun backyard art master pieces, AWS Members can share it all and have some fun.
Join a Technical Committee: Volunteers are the lifeblood of AWS. AWS currently has over 200 technical committees, subcommittees, and task groups and close to 2000 volunteer members on one or more of them. AWS loves to welcome members of the welding community who have a passion for the industry and who can lend their experience and expertise to the drafting and updating of our codes.
National Welding Month Discounts: Throughout April, AWS will be offering discounts on the following AWS products and services.
- Bookstore: Hard copies of the Welding Handbook or any of the Welding Handbook bundles are offered at 35% off list and member prices. Shipping is excluded from the discount.
- Education: Self-paced online courses will be offered at a 15% discount throughout the month.
- JobsInWelding.com: JobsInWelding.com is offering 50% off employment listings.
For more information on AWS National Welding Month activities, visit aws.org/nwm2022.
