North Yorkshire steel firm warns of critical welder shortage
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 17:02 · Archive
A Government review confirms a significant shortage of skilled welders in the UK.
The Migration Advisory Committee's July 2026 report confirms a significant shortage of skilled welders and recommends adding the trade to the Temporary Shortage List with 18 months of access. Welding is now listed as a priority occupation within advanced manufacturing, with 71 per cent of advanced manufacturing's priority roles already experiencing critical or elevated demand.
Skills England and the Department for Business and Trade estimate that between 2025 and 2035, the advanced manufacturing sector will need 47,000 additional workers to fill new roles, with a further 101,000 required to replace those leaving the workforce. This brings the total estimated need to 148,000 workers.
Chris Houston, managing director of Tadcaster-based Tadweld, said the shortage is no longer simply an industry warning but a genuine issue. He emphasised that skilled welders are essential across structural steel, energy infrastructure, defence, marine engineering and construction, arguing that without skilled people on the shop floor, major projects cannot become reality. He called the recruitment and training of new welders an urgent national issue.
How it is being reported
- North Yorkshire steel firm speaks out on shortage of weldersTadweld has spoken out following the Government's latest review, which confirms a significant shortage of skilled welders.The Press (York) · 27 Oct, 16:00
- North Yorkshire steel firm speaks out on shortage of weldersTadweld has spoken out following the Government's latest review, which confirms a significant shortage of skilled welders.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 27 Oct, 16:00
In this story: Tadweld · Chris Houston · Tadcaster · Migration Advisory Committee · Skills England · Department for Business and Trade · North Yorkshire
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