With a bleak unemployment forecast, it's always good to hear some good news. The Georgia Trade School in Kennesaw is hoping to excite a younger generation about welding.
Ben Stubbs, 19, says both his father and uncle were welders, but he never touched a torch until he had to make a career decision.
"I went with my gut and started welding and ever since then it's developed into a passion," said Stubbs.
Stubbs is a student at the trade school. It's a new school that trains welders. It's an often-forgotten trade as more kids are likely to enroll in college after high school.
"You have a choice. You can work on a warship for our Navy or you can work in a cubicle. I think it's a lot more exciting to work on a warship," said Ryan Blythe of the Georgia Trade School.
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, there are 8,500 welders employed in the state. In the next five years, that number will need to grow as both current workers and infrastructure ages.
"I started welding in 1992. I went through a 14 week program, got certified, and I've gotten every welding job I've ever applied for since then," said teacher Eden Parks.
Parks is an instructor at the school. After 500 hours of training and an internship with an employer, the welder is potentially certified in up to four different welding processes and endless possibilities.
"You don't have to walk beams. You don't have to do construction. You can do production. You can do fabrication. You can stay local. You can travel if you want to. You can kind of pick and choose what you want to do," said Parks.
Stubbs will have plenty of choices. He already has six companies asking about him. When he does make a choice, he'll be able to command at least the average rate of $22 an hour.
"It makes me feel special that not only do I have a passion for what I'm doing, but every day that I'm doing what I want to do, I'm not working, I'm having fun," said Stubbs.
In addition to the welding school, the Georgia Trade School also offers an open welding lab where employers can send their workers for additional training. Students must be at least 17 and have a high school diploma or GED. For more information on the school, click here.
