CWB Group releases new report on welding employment and salary survey results

November 7, 2024

Canadian Welding Industry Employment & Salary Report 2024 offers insights to help employers and welding professionals

Milton, Ontario – The CWB Group, a leader in the materials joining and allied technology services industry, is sharing the results of a survey of welding industry professionals in the Canadian Welding Industry Employment & Salary Report 2024. The report offers an in-depth look at the employment situation of welding professionals across Canada, including employment status, salary, welding qualifications, and job and career satisfaction.

“The CWB Group exists to support the welding industry, and that means having a deep understanding of the employment trends and issues facing welders and welding companies,” said Max Ceron, Director of Membership, CWB Group. “The insights we gather by connecting with our members and clients can help employers align hiring, training, and compensation with the Canadian industry. Individuals can also use this information to assess their own career goals and identify areas for growth.”

Highlights from the report include the following:

Employment status

  • 84% of respondents are employees of an organization, 12% are self-employed, 2.5% are employed apprentices, and 1.4% are on leave but still employed.
  • About 64% of respondents work 40 to 49 hours per week.

Salary

  • Approximately 56% of welding professionals earn between $60,000 and $110,000 annually.
  • Welding engineers report the highest annual salaries, with 54% making over $100,000 annually, while welding apprentices and welders (excluding welding journeypersons) report the lowest salaries.

Job and career satisfaction

  • Areas of highest job satisfaction revolve around relationships with co-workers and managers/supervisors. Areas of lowest satisfaction relate to opportunities for advancement, salary, and performance recognition.
  • About 56% of employees indicate high satisfaction with their career. Welding instructors and supervisors indicate the highest level of satisfaction, with 63% giving a rating between 8 and 10.

Challenges facing the industry

  • A lack of qualified workers (47%) was identified as the top issue facing the welding industry today, followed by an aging workforce (41%).

The survey also asked respondents about the use of automation in their organization’s welding operations. More than a quarter (26%) said they used automation today, and, of the remaining 74%, 11% said their organization is planning to use automation in the next one to two years.

The Employment & Salary Report 2024 survey was sent to all CWB Association members and CWB Education clients residing in Canada. Respondents who were employed and actively working in welding-related professions at the time of the survey were eligible to participate. A total of 1,337 people responded to the survey, with the majority residing in Ontario (31%), Alberta (22%), and Quebec (18%). Full respondent profile information can be found in the report.

Download the Employment & Salary Report 2024 report here.

The CWB Group Welding Industry Report 2024, which provides an overview of data collected by Statistics Canada and other sources, is also available. The Industry Report provides the Canadian context of trends on a national, regional, and provincial/territorial scale, and forecasts opportunities for the industry in the coming years. Download it here.

About the CWB Group:

The CWB Group is an industry-supported private sector organization providing welding certification, training, and education resources; industry-specific auditing services; and technical advice and support. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, with staff and offices across the country, the CWB Group is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a Certification Body for the administration of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) welding-related standards. The CWB Group engages directly with stakeholders to promote and advocate on behalf of the industry and address challenges faced by the welding sector. Website: cwbgroup.org.

Media Contact:
Aysha Raad, Communications Lead
CWB Group
Tel: 613-714-6828
Email: Aysha.Raad@cwbgroup.org