A shortage of welders in Australia threatens to disrupt the country’s drive for renewable energy infrastructure, an industry body has warned.
The nation is facing a shortfall of 70,000 welders by 2030 unless radical action is taken, Weld Australia says.
It is calling for a doubling in the capacity of Australia’s fabrication industry to meet demand from the renewables sector and other infrastructure projects.
“By 2030, we will be 70,000 welders short,” Weld Australia chief executive Geoff Crittenden said.
Welders are needed to manufacture and repair renewable energy components, including wind turbines and solar panels.
“Australia does not have the welders to deliver the nation’s critical energy, defence, rail and infrastructure projects,” Crittenden said.
“Access to the global supply chain for fabricated steel products will be a high-risk, expensive proposition.”
The forecast shortfall is part of a global shortage of welders in major industrial nations.
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“This is not an exclusively Australian problem,” he said.
“In America, they will be short half a million welders and the Japanese will be 250,000 short.”
Weld Australia says greater investment in apprentices and a complete shake-up of study options for school leavers is needed.
It is also calling for an overhaul of skills qualifications for mature-age workers who it says can help fill the welder shortfall.
The average welder salary in Australia is $74,000 per year.
Entry-level positions start at $64,350 per year.
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