In Kevin McMurray’s backyard there are dozens of metal bird feeders scattered around the property, in his basement there’s a set of lifting equipment, and in his garage a number of motorcycles. He built all of it himself.
“Most everything is made in China now,” said McMurray of stuff you buy in the store. “So much of it is crap.”
McMurray has been welding for so long that it takes a minute to recall the exact number of years. He graduated from high school in 1970, and says he picked up welding in 1975 when he was 22, or 23 years old. His uncle was a welder, but he showed very little interest in the work until he needed to figure out a career path of his own. In his 20s, he became interested in building motorcycles, so he picked up the trade.
Since then McMurray – who owns Forest Road Welding LLC in Greenfield – has been all across the country from California to Maine, using the skill. He has built everything from truck bodies, to offshore drilling equipment, to ships.
These days much of his work comes from small construction companies, and mechanics in the area.
The demand for skilled welders is growing, according to the American Welding Society. It says by 2025, the nation’s workforce will need more than 400,000 welders to accommodate demands across many industries.
A survey conducted by ManpowerGroup says the most difficult segment of the workforce for employers to staff are skilled trades – the welders, electricians and machinists of the world. It predicts the problem will only worsen in the future as people in the trades near retirement.
Local high schools in the Monadnock region have vocational programs that provide the groundwork for students to pursue trades in high school. The Region 14 Applied Technology Center has many different paths for students to choose from, which include auto mechanics, firefighter training, early childhood education, and nursing programs. It doesn’t have one for welding. Director John Reitnauer said only five of the 32 centers offer welding. It’s possible, he said, that Region 14 could implement such a program, although many criteria need to be met before that happens, including a community need, and specific employment trends, to name just a couple off a long list.
McMurray said he isn’t seeing many young people pursue a career in welding. He says it’s a shame, but said there are valid reasons why people don’t want to enter the field.
“My ears are shot, and my eyes are tired – it’s like reading all day long, I follow a little light around with a helmet focusing on it,” said McMurray, who is 65.
McMurray’s hands are weathered with years of hard use, the T-shirts he uses while working in his shop are tattered, and certain patches of a leather jacket he wears are a few shades darker.
He said he’s been exposed to carcinogens over the years. He admits he didn’t always take the proper precautions.
“You really got to be careful, and I didn’t learn that stuff until I got older,” McMurray said.
All-in-all though, McMurray said, he’s in pretty good health for his age. He doesn’t have any real plans to retire and said he actually is becoming more of a workaholic as he ages.
McMurray said young people also aren’t going into the trade because it’s hard to squeeze out a living. The insurance costs alone make it hard for small-business owners to operate.
“If you go to work clean, and come back dirty, it’s hard to make ends meet. You make a living, you eat OK, you make out OK, you make money, but not a lot,” McMurray said. “You work really hard, it’s not like white-collared work.”
He said it’s a shame, because it’s a practical skill that’s useful and in demand.
And as tough as it is, McMurray has been able to spend his time doing what he loves: building motorcycles. He combines old engines with new parts that he has made on his own, which results in a finished product that’s unlike anything else out there.
He says he doesn’t ride that much anymore, but when he does it’s just the bike he put together and the road.
“It’s pretty cool riding a bike you built,” he said.
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com.