Welders Desperately Needed, Bloomfield School Wants To Train Them

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — According to Cesar Cordero, welding – which he calls an “art” – is the backbone of the U.S. economy.

“Trained welders are needed in virtually every industry,” says Cordero, one of the instructors at Universal Technical Institute’s Bloomfield campus. “They’re able to work on everything from automobile fabrication to almost any kind of manufacturing.”

“You can’t build bridges, highways, office buildings, pipelines, power plants, vehicles and spacecraft without welders,” said Cordero, who has worked as a structural welder on the Freedom Tower in New York City, among other unique assignments.

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) is banking on this demand as it officially launches its latest welding program in Bloomfield. The auto repair school’s seventh overall, it will give students hands-on training and instruction through a curriculum developed in collaboration with Lincoln Electric, a global leader in the welding industry.

Despite the many opportunities for trained welders and an average annual salary that tops $49,000 in New Jersey, there’s a critical labor shortage, UTI spokespeople said.

“The American Welding Society warns that the industry will experience a shortfall of more than 375,000 welders by 2023,” UTI spokespeople stated. “Some of this shortfall appears to be driven by the stigma that skilled trades like welding lack the prestige of jobs that might require a four-year degree.”

• See related article: Teens Train For Car Repair Careers In Bloomfield Despite 'Stigma'

UTI Bloomfield welding instructor Emmanuel Sangale said that well-trained welders can acquire a high degree of technical skills, which open many unique job opportunities.

Sangale’s more than nine years in welding began when he worked on a construction site fresh out of vocational school. “I saw other people welding and I realized that was what I wanted to do,” he said.

His career in welding has seen him work on every different welding process, particularly on structural welding and fabrication.

“If you enjoy building things and working with your hands you may never want to put down a welding stick once you pick it up,” Sangale said.

UTI Bloomfield Campus President Shawn Alexander said the campus is grateful that highly experienced and passionate instructors like Cordero and Sangale are at the helm of the inaugural class of welders in Essex County.

“Welding complements our core technician programs and will give our students and graduates opportunities in an even greater range of industries and employers across the region,” Alexander said.

• See related article: Bloomfield Auto Repair School Says Demand For Welders Is Red Hot

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