Malad High School students got a hands-on look at welding and trade careers on Tuesday, thanks to a visit from Western Welding Academy as part of their 2025 Blue Collar Tour, LocalNews8 reports.
The Gillette, Wyoming-based welding school is traveling to 30 high schools across the western and midwestern United States, aiming to spark interest in blue-collar careers, particularly in welding.
“We’ve got to get these kids inspired,” said Quacy Wilson, director of student selection at Western Welding Academy. “We’ve got to show them that there’s another way to make money and make a living, and that we need it—if we want to continue to live the way we do, we’ve got to have blue-collar people.”
The U.S. is currently facing a welder shortage of approximately 400,000 workers, according to Wilson. With the average blue-collar worker between 45 and 56 years old, retirements are outpacing new workers entering the field.
At Malad High School, interest in welding is growing. Lexie Evans, the school’s agriculture educator, noted that her welding classes are gaining popularity, and programs like the Blue Collar Tour help reinforce students’ skills while introducing them to career opportunities.
“It’s extremely important to show them, ‘you can do this,'” said Evans. “I think it’s a great skill, and I think it sets them up for career success—and that’s my goal as a teacher.”
With the demand for skilled welders increasing, programs like the Blue Collar Tour are helping young people explore alternative career paths while addressing critical workforce shortages in the US.
