While economic growth rates remain sluggish, the manufacturing industry is returning to Japan. Possible causes include soaring labor costs in China, risk aversion to centralized production due to the impact of the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 lockdown, and a sense of undervalued domestic production due to the weak yen. In the welding industry, due to the strong demand for steel frames for construction, the ratio of job openings for welding engineers has more than tripled, and the shortage of skilled workers is becoming serious. The situation may become even more serious as the welding industry returns to Japan. Our society will continue to work on measures to address the labor shortage, such as attracting young people, increasing the participation of women, and supporting the acceptance of people from overseas, including technical intern trainees.
The number of applicants for the Welding Engineer Evaluation Test has recovered to pre-COVID levels due to the change to a sustainable certification system. Welding engineer education, which began five years ago, is spreading nationwide thanks to its system which exempts applicants from taking the written portion of the evaluation test, and we expect further expansion this year.
Regarding making qualification and certification activities more sustainable, the web-based application system "e-Weld" was launched nationwide in April last year to improve the quality of services and certification for applicants for the Welding Engineer Evaluation Test and to increase the efficiency of administrative procedures. This year, we will start a web-based application system for welding coordinators.
The 3D Additive Manufacturing Technology Committee, launched three years ago, has 43 member companies, and expectations for and recognition of this committee are increasing. To date, we have held seminars, symposiums, and panel discussions to share information among committee members and to disseminate information in cooperation with academic societies and various media. In the future, we intend to focus on the development of elemental technologies and their standardization by building a system that can grasp trends in the international standardization of qualification and certification and dealing with the collection and analysis of domestic needs.
Based on the second phase (FY2021-FY2024) of our society's Activity Policy Implementation Plan, we would like to launch a "Grant Program for Designated Research Topics" in addition to the existing Grant Program for Researchers Leading the Next Generation, which aims to support welding research mainly in local areas. We are considering basic research and development that will contribute to technological development and problem-solving that is needed by our society and essential to the welding industry.
This year, our society will continue its efforts to resolve various issues and establish sustainable society activities, thereby contributing to the further development of the welding industry.
We look forward to your continued cooperation in the above-mentioned measures, as cooperation with related organizations and member companies will become increasingly important. Finally, we express our sincere gratitude to all those who have supported and cooperated with our society's activities.
The Japan Welding Engineering Society
President Kazuhiro AOYAMA