CWB Group releases interactive 2026 Welding Industry Report

Report shows that retirements and technology are changing the welding workforce and industry in Canada 

MILTON, ON, October 19, 2026 – Approximately 78 per cent of the 25,600 job openings projected for welders and related machine operators in Canada over 2024–2033 will arise from replacement demand rather than newly created positions, according to the CWB Group 2026 Welding Industry Report, released today. Retirements are expected to account for approximately three-quarters of that replacement demand. 

CWB Group publishes the Welding Industry Report every two years. The report pulls together data from Statistics Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, and other federal labour market sources to show where Canada’s welding workforce stands today. This year, for the first time, it lives online as an interactive resource rather than a PDF. 

On the surface, the workforce looks stable. In 2025, more than 215,000 people in Canada worked in welding-related jobs, including 90,200 welders and related machine operators, with employment remaining relatively stable over the longer term. But the pressure is building from both sides. An aging population, lower federal immigration targets, and trade uncertainty are making it harder to replace workers who leave, while investment in nuclear energy, shipbuilding, defence, electric vehicle manufacturing, and data centres is driving up demand for highly skilled welding professionals. 

“Canada is advancing several major infrastructure and nation-building projects to strengthen our country's economy and productivity, from bridges and transit lines to pipelines and the power grid, and those projects can’t be built without skilled welding professionals,” said Craig Martin, Chief Operating Officer, CWB Group. “This report shows where that workforce stands today and what it will take to renew it. We made it interactive so employers, educators, and governments can easily put the data to work in their own planning.”  

Other findings from the report include: 

• Fewer apprentices are finishing than in 2015. New welding apprenticeship registrations rose from 3,762 in 2015 to 4,128 in 2024, while certificates granted fell from 2,502 to 1,029 over the same period. 
• Women’s participation has more than doubled. The number of women working as welders and related machine operators grew from 2,500 in 2016 to 5,400 in 2025, raising their share of the occupation from 2.7% to 6.0%. 
• Quebec had the largest welding workforce in 2025. Quebec employed 25,200 welders and related machine operators in 2025, surpassing Ontario at 24,900. 
• Inspection is growing fast. Non-destructive testers and inspectors were the fastest-growing welding-related occupations examined in the report from 2016 to 2025, with average annual employment growth of 12.7%. 
• Atlantic Canada is the region to watch. The report projects the strongest employment prospects in Atlantic Canada, a region where welding work focuses on shipbuilding, naval fleet renewal, and offshore energy. 

“Closing the gap between apprenticeship registrations and completions is critical to renewing Canada’s welding workforce,” said Martin. “Employers who help apprentices complete their certification and continue developing the skills of their existing teams will be better prepared to manage the transition as experienced workers retire.” 

The report also examines how automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital quality assurance are changing the skills employers need. Findings point to growing demand for welders who pair strong technical expertise with digital literacy and a commitment to continuous learning. 

In the new interactive format, readers can sort occupational data, compare provincial workforce size, wages, and 2025 to 2027 employment outlooks on an interactive map, and explore the industry's 2030 strategic outlook.  

The CWB Group 2026 Welding Industry Report is now available in English and French at cwbgroup.org/industry-report.

About 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. The CWB Group also engages directly with stakeholders to promote and advocate on behalf of the industry and address challenges faced by the welding sector. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, with staff and offices across the country, 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.  

Learn more at cwbgroup.org.