Airgas’ Investment in the “Toolbelt Generation” is Reaping Returns

In greater numbers, young people are choosing trade schools and careers over college and white-collar jobs. Airgas is helping fuel this flow of talent into jobs that keep our country running.

The manufacturing workforce is experiencing a reawakening. Vocational schools are seeing a surge in students and this spring, the Wall Street Journal ran a major story reporting that “the skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers.”

There are many reasons for the rise of the “toolbelt generation,” including out-of-sight college costs, a current shortage of skilled tradespeople, good pay and less threat to job security from AI. Airgas, too, has a place on that list. The programs we put in place to increase the flow of skilled welders into the manufacturing workforce have helped decrease the stigma of vocational careers and steered droves of students into trade jobs.

1,000 jobs and counting

Through our Airgas High School Welding Education Initiative, we’ve provided equipment, supplies and training to support welding program growth at nearly 120 high schools across the country. To date, an estimated 1,000 students have obtained welding-related jobs after graduating from a school program supported by Airgas donations. One of them is Airicka Begay, a 2022 graduate of Page High School in Arizona.

“When I joined our school’s welding program, there wasn’t much equipment to use. But with your support we actually built the welding shop and learned how the machines worked,” says Begay. “It was a better learning experience than I could’ve imagined, and I now have a manufacturing job that utilizes my welding skills.”

Airgas is also encouraging future welders and other skilled professionals through our support of SkillsUSA. This June, for the second year in a row, we served as the gas supplier for the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, which brought together 16,000 technical education students and instructors. Using our donated gases, gas regulators and cylinder safety accessories during a week of workshops and competitions, they honed the skills and met the employers that will accelerate their journey to becoming part of the manufacturing workforce.

Professional development and PPE

Airgas’ support of the trades extends beyond the next-generation and includes today's workforce as well. At our 10 Regional Training Centers, employees from our customer sites come in for product and process demonstrations, solution development workshops, professional development classes, equipment sales and support, and more. The centers also offer training and education for high school welding instructors and welding apprentices.

“Technical expertise is priceless for manufacturers,” says Andy Afflick, Director, Advanced Manufacturing — South Region. “With exposure to the latest welding solutions and our Advanced Fab experts, our Regional Training Centers help our customers develop a workforce that is better equipped to help lower the overall cost of manufacturing through quality, productivity and efficiency methods.”

Hopefully soon, that workforce will include more women. Today, according to the American Welding Society, women make up just 5% of the welding pool. One of the obstacles is ill-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) that can be unsafe and restrain women from doing their best on the job.

This year, Airgas is set to launch a line of RADNOR?-branded women’s PPE, including welding jackets and gloves. In addition, Airgas has added other brands of women’s PPE options to its online offering.

“By assuring ease of access to properly fitted, gender-specific PPE, Airgas will make the welding profession more welcoming to women and widen the talent pool coming into our industries. It’s another way we can support the trades,” says Anthony Emmolo, Safety Product Manager.