When talking about male-dominated career fields, welding tops the list for many people. However, would it come as a surprise that at one time, 65% of industrial workers were women? This was a huge shift in the workforce demographic and allowed for many women to find a new career path in the field of welding. While these workforce numbers have since lowered steadily, it is great to see that a career in welding can be a fulfilling and wonderful career choice for any woman, should she find interest in it!
What Happened to Make Women Enter Welding?
World War II was the catalyst towards women entering welding. In the 1940s, most women were still stay-at-home mothers taking care of their families. Yet when the war started, men became recruited to fight overseas. This left an enormous job gap that needed filled, and women stepped up to the task. They became welders to help in the war effort as they built equipment, ammunition, and vehicles.
The women worked hard in these roles until the war ended. As men returned from their military duty, many took up these job roles again, causing the number of women who remained in welding to decline. Yet several women made their mark in the history books due to their efforts.
Famous Historic Women Welders
Zaddie Johnson
Zaddie Jonhson was part of a welding crew in Mobile, Alabama that consisted of only women. She worked in the shipyards and then turned into a trainer and recruited more women onto her team. Her incredible work ethic led to the local 1945 newspaper article featuring her crew.
Gladys Theus
Known as the “fastest welder” working at Kaiser Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Gladys Theus started her welding career in the shipyards and was efficient with her work despite having to deal with rising tensions by male workers about the hiring of women and African Americans into the force.
Today’s Women Welders
Having to deal with negative stereotypes, women persevered at their welding jobs to show that they can work as hard and as well as their male counterparts. Yet even with these achievements, the number of women drastically declined in the industry after the war. Today, roughly 6% of welders are women. Despite these low numbers, there are still women showing the world what they can do. Here are some women welders of today.
Ericka Heckman
Ericka Heckman started welding when she was 16. She became so proficient that she entered and won a gold medal in the manufacturing segment of the SkillsUSA National Competition. She later represented the USA at the WorldSkills 2015 International Competition. Her long-term dream is to become a welding supervisor.
Pa’Trice Frazier
Pa’Trice Frazier is a welding instructor and a master welder as she works at her company Weld Jointed. As the only Black woman instructor in Philadelphia, she created her company to reach out to people of all diversities to pursue a welding career and all the many benefits.
Career In Welding
Getting into welding can be a rewarding experience for many people who are first entering the field or looking for an employment change. In 2022, there were roughly 433,000 welders in the field as they made an annual median wage of $47,540. Typically, there are about 42,600 job openings for welders annually as people only need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the field.
Most of the training comes from moderate hands-on work. While many of the historical welders worked for shipyards and military installations, many welders today can find positions in a host of different industries ranging from aerospace, construction, manufacturing, marine, automotive, manufacturing, and even underwater welding jobs.
While technology and AI have streamlined many jobs, including welding, human workers are necessary in this important field. Workers are still more efficient and productive, leading to a need to inspire more young women to consider such a job opportunity that could open different options in their careers.
There will always be a need for welders. Women have shown throughout history that they can step up to the task to work in this industry!
Sources:
- https://www.al.com/wire/2013/07/gadsden_woman_had_mans_job_as.html
- https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/female-welders-torch-glass-ceiling-male-dominated-field-n1264212
- https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/who-we-are/our-history/an-industrial-revolution-all-their-own-world-war-ii-women-stand-
- https://primeweld.com/blogs/news/women-in-the-welding-industry
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm
- https://www.zippia.com/welder-jobs/demographics/#
