EngineeringFor employers6 min read
How to Hire Welders and Fabricators in a Skills Shortage
Good welders are not out of work for long. If your vacancy has been open for two months, the problem is rarely that nobody exists. It is usually the brief, the speed or the offer.
- Write the brief around process, material, position and code, not just “welder”.
- Run a weld test early. It tells you more than any CV.
- Move from first call to offer in days, not weeks.
- Use temp to perm when you want proof before you commit.
How short is the supply?
Demand for skilled welders has cooled from its 2023 peak, but the long-term gap has not closed. Enginuity’s Welding Week 2026 analysis says the UK will need at least 32% more welders by 2030 in engineering construction alone, and found advertised welding pay averaging around £38,600 in 2026.
That last number is the trap. Most adverts ask for two years’ experience, so everyone is fishing in the same small pond. The employers who hire fastest are the ones who are specific, quick and a bit more open minded.
Step 1: write a brief a welder can say yes to
“Welder fabricator required” tells a candidate nothing. The good ones want to know whether the job matches what they are best at.
- Process: MIG, TIG, MMA or a mix.
- Material and thickness: mild steel, stainless, aluminium, plate or pipe.
- Positions: bench work, positional, 6G pipe.
- Standard: is coding to BS EN ISO 9606-1 required, or is BS 4872 enough?
- Reading drawings, fabricating from scratch, or welding only.
- Shift pattern, overtime and the actual pay rate.
Put the rate in the advert. Welders talk to each other, and a hidden rate reads as a low one.
Step 2: test early
A weld test is the fairest interview there is. Twenty minutes on the bench with your material and your set shows you hand skills, set-up and how they treat the kit.
- Keep it short and relevant to the real job.
- Tell candidates in advance what they will be asked to weld.
- Have someone who can judge the result in the room.
- Give an answer the same day wherever you can.
Step 3: be honest about coding
Coded welders hold a qualification test certificate, most often to BS EN ISO 9606-1. Those certificates are specific to process, material and position, and they need confirming every six months to stay valid. A welder who was coded on one job may not be covered for yours.
So decide what you really need. If the work is structural or pressure related, ask for the right coding and check the certificate dates. If it is general fabrication, a skilled welder who is not currently coded may be exactly who you want, and putting them through a coding test is quicker than waiting for the perfect CV.
Look at people with strong hand skills from related trades, ex-forces engineers and improvers a year short of your usual ask. Pair them with your best welder and you grow your own.
Step 4: speed wins
A good welder will have more than one conversation on the go. Every extra stage in your process is a chance for someone else to make the offer first.
- Day one: phone call and a clear brief.
- Within the week: site visit and weld test together.
- Same or next day: decision and offer.
Step 5: choose the right route
How you hire matters as much as who.
| Route | Use it when | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary | A contract has landed or the order book has jumped | Skilled hands quickly, for as long as the work lasts |
| Temp to perm | You want to see the work before you commit | Proof on the job, then they move to your books |
| Permanent | You are replacing someone or building the core team | A screened shortlist and support through to start date |
Step 6: keep them
Hiring is half of it. The shops that hold on to welders tend to do the same few things.
- Keep the kit in good order. Nothing loses a welder faster than poor equipment.
- Pay for coding and renewals, and keep the six-month confirmations up to date.
- Offer variety. Welders stay where they are still learning.
- Review pay against the market at least once a year.
Welders and fabricators, found faster.
In a skills shortage, a specialist partner is the quickest route to the right people.
Tell us the process, the material and the standard. We will come back with people worth a weld test.
Start a searchHiring welders: quick answers
Why is it hard to hire welders in the UK?
Long-term demand is ahead of supply. Enginuity estimates the UK will need at least 32% more welders by 2030 in engineering construction alone, and most employers are competing for the same experienced people.
What is a coded welder?
A welder who has passed a qualification test to a recognised standard, most often BS EN ISO 9606-1, for a specific process, material and position.
Should I run a weld test at interview?
Yes. A short, relevant test on your own material is the most reliable way to judge skill, and good candidates expect it.
Is temp to perm a good way to hire welders?
It works well when you want to see quality and attitude on real jobs before offering a permanent role. T&Cs apply to temp-to-perm transfers.
- Enginuity, Skills Insight: Welding Week 2026 (July 2026)
- WQ-iC, How long does a welding qualification last?
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the current official guidance before you act on it.