Sixty-five schools will enrol in Airgas’ Highschool Welding Education Initiative for the 2024 academic year to support welding, engineering, and technical careers.
The Air Liquide has long supported young welders. Since 2018, the Airgas High School Welding Education Initiative has assisted 117 schools, over 8,100 welding students, and nearly 560 instructors across the country.
Participating schools in the programme will receive professional development training or continuing education for welding teachers in close collaboration with Airgas professionals.
Jay Worley, Chief Operating Officer at Airgas, said, “Our goal is to enable and empower students in these 65 deserving programmes to fill their potential in a welding career. We are excited to work alongside the dedicated schools and teachers in this year’s programme, with equipment and PPE manufacturers adding further support.”
Each of the participating schools was selected based on four key factors: a high unmet need at the school; a productive welding programme with the potential to graduate job-ready welders; passionate teachers; and enthusiastic local Airgas champions.
Airgas’ efforts come at a critical time for the welding industry. The American Welding Society (AWS) forecasts that 360,000 new welding professionals are projected to be needed by 2027, with 90,000 average welding jobs to be filled annually between 2023-2027.
In June 2023, Airgas also announced its support for SkillsUSA, a student organisation that is helping to build a skilled workforce in the US, with the supply of industrial gases and equipment.
Industrial gases supplied by the Air Liquide company will support many SkillsUSA Championship competitions, including collision repair technology, HVACR, residential and commercial appliance technology, welding, welding fabrication, and welding sculpture.
Read more: Airgas supports SkillsUSA with industrial gases and equipment
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