Security Guards and Welders

In the United States, which do we have more of - private security guards or welders?  We employ about two million private security guards - more than combined federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel. 

In 1988 there were 570,000 welders in the U.S.  By 2012, the number had dropped to less than 360,000.  The American Welding Society estimates that by 2020 there will be a shortage of 290,000 professionals including inspectors, engineers, and teachers.

We seemed concerned more about protecting and securing the past and present than in investing in the future.  The ledger on welding has been mixed - obvious declines due to our movement away from manufacturing - but huge potential increases due to our oil and gas expansions.