SIERRA VISTA — Youth welders from high schools in Cochise County and beyond competed Friday at the Skills USA high school welding competition at Cochise College’s Sierra Vista campus.

Kids from high schools in Cottonwood, Willcox, Sierra Vista, Bowie, St. David, Benson, Douglas, Buena and San Simon competed in categories that included MIG, TIG and arc welding, oxyacetylene cutting and welding, and a written exam, Cochise College welding instructor Scott Brown said.

About 38 students participated, as opposed to about 32 participants in the last few years.

“They get to do a demo spot and set to see a demonstration on aerospace welding, which involves light materials and stainless steel,” Brown said. “In each booth is a blueprint, and they have to build the part. They have 30 minutes at each station, then they rotate to the next section, and do the next welding process.”

The welding program at Cochise College is moving next semester to a new building. There are two full-time welding instructors and one part time, and there are 14 welding classes at the Sierra Vista campus.

“But there are different avenues. Maybe you’re going to be a pipe welder, so you’re not going to have to take an aerospace class,” Brown said.

And the future is bright for would-be welders in the U.S. marketplace.

“Within the next five years, they’re projecting our nation to be down over 150,000 welders,” Brown said.

So, higher demand and higher pay is anticipated for professional welders in the coming years. Brown said the United States is already outsourcing welding to China.

Benson High School senior Earl East sees a forthcoming demand for welders, which is in line with his career plans, and he has been taking advantage of the Cochise College welding curriculum as he waits to graduate from high school.

Friday was East’s first time to compete at the college. “I’ve been welding since I was in sixth grade. I take three Cochise College courses, four nights a week, while still attending high school,” East said.

The competition was challenging, more for some than others.

“It’s challenging because you’ve got to know where to put your welds, and what kind of weld to put there. The most challenging for some is the oxyacetylene welding, because some of them haven’t done that before,” East said. “It’s pretty good, I liked it. I’m competing for state with Cochise College next week, so this competition helps get me ready for that.”

The state competition will be in Phoenix. The top three welders from which will go on to nationals, and national winners go on to internationals.

“It is another career opportunity — especially with the shortage of welders coming up because of the baby boomers,” East said. “But it’s fun — a good thing to get out of school for.”