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Welders, America Needs You

March 21, 2014 /

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The MDT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program encourages and supports the participation of companies owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in transportation contracts.

After he graduates in June, Eric Bankson plans to work as a subcontractor for oil and gas companies in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He knows a guy who’s making $300,000 a year.

"I figure I can do about half that," says Bankson, whose sister is getting her master’s degree in nursing.

"That’s going to take her six years, and I’ll be coming out of here in nine months making more money." Not bad considering the national jobless rate for 16- to 24-year-olds is 14.4 percent, and the average salary for 25- to 34-year-olds with bachelor’s degrees is $46,900, according to 2012 data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

By Matthew Philips

Full Story: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-20/skilled-welder-shortage-looms-in-u-dot-s-dot-with-many-near-retirement#r=hp-ls