FOX Business’ Jeff Flock reports from Father Judge High School and speaks with welding specialist Joe Williams about the growing demand for welders and blue-collar workers.
Some high schools have started offering shop classes again, so students can gain in-demand trade skills for well-paying careers.
One of those is Father Judge High School, a Catholic high school in Philadelphia, FOX Business correspondent Jeff Flock reported Thursday.
Skyline in autumn behind the Schuylkill River Boardwalk in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The school has a welding program for students. Its welding lab contains 32 bays where students can learn skills of the trade, according to Flock.
Steamfitters Local 420, SeaBox, Holtec International, L3 Harris, DCF Fabricators and the Philly Shipyard are among some of those that partner with Father Judge High School on its welding program, according to its website.
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Welding specialist Joe Williams, the instructor for the program, told Flock that demand for welders “is only growing right now.”
He said there is a major shortage of welders globally.
Students in Father Judge High School’s welding program are getting jobs right out of high school, something Williams said was “attributed to the demand that’s needed.”
“The demand is great, the success rate is great and, because of that, these guys are being offered career-driven, high-paid jobs before graduation.”
One junior named Elijah said he had already received a $70,000 job offer.
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Asked how the gig came about, the student told Flock, “Just putting in the time, putting in the work at welding, you know, thanks to Mr. Will giving me the opportunity to be able to do things like this, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to even have something like this.”
Flock reported “there’s a need right now” for manufacturing jobs. The industry had 449,000 openings in March, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Williams said the welding program “brings awareness.”
Brandenburg, Cottbus: A man is busy assembling a TIG torch for his welding work at the stand of a metal construction company at the trade fair. Photo: Frank Hammerschmidt/dpa (Photo by Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images) (Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“There’s more of a need for welders, blue-collar workers and things like that,” he told Flock. “And there are other ways to be successful than just college. College and blue collar is the way to go.”
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Flock reported Father Judge High School has the “whole gamut represented here,” with the school also having students accepted to top universities.
Another trade pathway the school currently offers is for automotive skills, according to its website.