Why Boston Needs the Next Generation of Welders

Welding Trade
Written By Tricia B
 

Why the Next Generation of Welders are Needed

Boston is a “building city.” We’re constantly repairing, expanding, and reinventing; housing, schools, transit, waterfront infrastructure, clean energy projects, you name it. But none of that happens without skilled hands. Welding is one of those behind-the-scenes trades that quietly holds the whole skyline together.

Boston Can’t Build (or maintain) Without Welding

Welders don’t just “work in shops.” They’re part of the backbone of construction and manufacturing; joining, repairing, and cutting the metal that becomes stairs, railings, structural supports, platforms, gates, marine components, and equipment. Nationally, welders are needed because infrastructure and manufacturing still require real people doing real work. Even when overall growth is modest, the openings are steady; driven mostly by replacement as experienced workers retire or leave the trade.

The Demand is Real and the Pipeline is the Problem

Here’s the part people miss: we don’t have a “welding problem,” we have a “welding pipeline” problem. The American Welding Society’s workforce data projects the U.S. will need hundreds of thousands of new welding professionals by the end of the decade, with tens of thousands of openings each year.

That matters to Boston because Boston competes for talent. If we don’t intentionally train local young people, we’re always going to be short or paying a premium to pull workers from somewhere else.

Equity Issue

Boston has young people who want a real career path: something hands-on, respected, and capable of changing their lives. Welding can do that. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, welders have a median annual wage around $51,000 (May 2024), and it’s a career that can scale with skill.

But people don’t just find welding. They need access, training, safety culture, mentorship, and a bridge into the real world of job sites and employers.

Bottom Line

If Boston wants to keep building and wants those opportunities to stay in Boston, then we need a stronger, local welding pipeline. 

How My Sister’s Child is Preparing Young Adults for High-Demand Welding Careers in Boston

My Sister’s Child exists because I got tired of seeing the same cycle: young adults with potential, no clear path, and industries saying “we can’t find workers.” So, we decided to build the bridge ourselves.

Building Employability

Welding is technical, but the career lasts when the habits last. That’s why we focus on the whole person:

  • Work readiness: showing up on time, communication, teamwork, accountability

  • Life skills + financial literacy: a paycheck is only powerful if you know how to manage it

  • Safety culture: nobody wins if you get hurt

Training that Matches what Employers Actually Need

Our goal is to prepare our students to step into real opportunities with confidence.

Delivering industry-recognized training and credentials:

  • OSHA

  • Hot Works

  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) fundamentals

  • Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) fundamentals

  • Rigging

  • Scaffolding

  • Aerial lift training

Ready. Set. Arc! prepares young adults with welding skills, safety certifications, and job readiness training to launch careers in the construction and manufacturing trades.

Real-World Connection is the Difference

  • Industry speakers (people actually working the trades)

  • Field trips (help students see themselves in the environment)

  • Internship and placement support (the goal is a job, not a certificate)

  • Resume + apprentice application support (students can move forward confidently)

Why this Approach Works in Boston

Boston-area employers and workforce systems are already saying the demand is there; Massachusetts training partners specifically call out the need for skilled welders and structured welding training pathways tied to employer demand.

My Sister’s Child is built to meet that moment with a model that’s practical, structured, and community-rooted.

What We Need from Industry & Community Partners

Apprenticeship Programs:
Acceptance and placement opportunities for top-performing program participants who are ready to take the next step into registered apprenticeship pathways.

Employers:
Internships, site visits, mock interviews, and entry-level opportunities that give beginners a real chance; without requiring “3–5 years of experience” before they’ve even had their first job.

Partners:
Access to training space, equipment, guest instructors, and transportation support to help remove barriers to participation and exposure.

Sponsors & Supporters:
Funding for stipends, PPE, tools, and operating costs so students can complete the training that they started.

 

“Talent is everywhere; opportunity is not. We’re changing that with each cohort we bring forward.”

Maria Storms, Founder of My Sister’s Child

 
Tricia B