Posted on 06/25/2012 1:03:38 PM PDT by Titus-Maximus
The Quick Take: Rapid oil and gas development in the “oil patch” of western North Dakota and northeastern Montana has created huge demand for workers—not just in the oilfields, but also in a range of non-oil industries. But so far, the supply of labor—from within and outside the region—has responded slowly to demand. In recent years, job openings have soared and unemployment has dropped to very low levels—below 3 percent in a number of counties.
The Bakken oil play is drawing job seekers from other Ninth District states and the rest of the country, but they’re not coming in sufficient numbers to keep up with continued job growth. There are several obstacles to the flow of labor into the oil patch, among them low unemployment in eastern North Dakota, the area’s frigid winters and—most important—a scarcity of housing.
The region faces an awkward period of adjustment, but labor conditions are likely to loosen within a few years as rising wages and improved living conditions for migrants increase the workforce.
Rick Tofte doesn’t try to hire workers for his Williston, N.D., construction business anymore. They’re difficult to find, and even harder to keep—starting wages at oilfield service firms in the area far exceed what he can pay for the services of carpenters, roofers and electricians. The 30-year-old firm has a full slate of building projects, including upscale housing and facilities for expanding oilfield companies. Yet Tofte Brothers Construction employs only six people; as the oil boom has taken hold in the region, Tofte and his brother Terry have increasingly relied on subcontractors to do most of their work
“We have changed our structure in how we [operate],” Rick Tofte said. “We used to do it all ourselves; now we sub[contract] out 75 percent of it, just because we can’t find the employees.”
as long as there is internet I wouldn’t mind too much
Where are you? Here we hire engineers with a CEO rate of pay (well, almost...)
I am a Technician not, yet, an Engineer, I am still finishing school for that.
Ohio has lost much industry and jobs have gone overseas, as well. When much of the Auto Industry failed, after the Steel Mills, and other industries failed, the results are many engineers were laid off.
So for the last few years, companies that do use Technicians from Technical Temp Agencies, were able to request Engineers, rather than Techs @ a Technician pay rate.
They say we are getting more jobs here, in Ohio. Problem is, no one seems to know where. Of the jobs that are left, many have changed over to part-time and even getting one of those is difficult.
A few years ago, the Sunday Newspapers used to be 3-4 inches thick with half of it being Jobs. Even the daily papers were 1 inch thick with 1/2 being jobs (I know this, as I assembled and delivered the newspapers in both urban and rural areas).
Now, the jobs section is on about less than 1/2 page and is only a few small columns.
The biggest increase in jobs has been in telemarketing, which they now call telecommunications. This is not the Telecom I worked in, LOL. I did test, final inspection to the component level and was blessed to also work in some pretty cool R&D have also worked in the field as well.
The new telecommunications is all part-time calling to sell services. Not something they would hire a deaf person for.
My first real job was in Charleston SC on a Navy Housing project. The first of January the sub contractor pouring the slabs moved in crews from job sites in North Dakota.
All the locals were dressed for winter. Those down from Minot were working in T shirts
The folks living in those trailers always live in them. The location changes with the work.
Families live in houses elsewhere
Many from Ohio have joined them. Many more will join them.
There is a commercial that airs from time to time; talking about the economy, events that led to the situation today. It ends with this request: “Will the last person leaving Ohio, please shut the lights off?”
When most of us still had work, temp work if no perm work was available, it got a chuckle b/c most of us believed it (economy) would turn around. Just a small dry spell.
Now, most of us nod & believe it will, sooner than not, come to that.
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