Praxair Inc. recently invested over $500 million in the U.S. Gulf Coast — most of it in Louisiana. It was during the execution of these projects that the company ran into a critical shortage in skilled workers, particularly welders.
"Working closely with the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy (WISE) Program, we developed the Skills Pipeline Program, which incorporates scholarships for welding training, and instructorships and continuing education for basic welders to improve their skills and become higher level welders and higher certified welders," said Anne Roby, senior vice president at Praxair.
Praxair's Skills Pipeline Program is the company's most recent community engagement initiative and represents a multifaceted approach to help address the growing need for skilled workers in today's global economy. The first phase of the program will provide more than $300,000 to train 100 new welders in an accelerated one-year curriculum in Louisiana, as well as provide continuing education for existing welders, professional development and welding instructorships. The program, which is funded by Praxair's Global Giving Program, will be offered through Baton Rouge Community College, Delgado Community College in New Orleans and Southwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Manual air carbon arc cutting.
Praxair's short-term goal for the first phase of the Skills Pipeline work force development program is to educate 100 new welders and to improve the skills of existing welders in Louisiana. Long term, however, it's about competitiveness.
The first phase of the Skills Pipeline Program kicked off in early August. The second phase will continue to identify where skill gaps exist in the development pipeline for skilled professionals.
For more information, visit www.praxair.com or call (800) 772-9247.