According to this recent article from the Houston Chronicle, there are many jobs still needing filled in the Eagle Ford Shale Play. The employers are saying they can’t find enough qualified people and that the applicants they do get do not understand the business. Really? Of course they don’t understand the business! The oil and gas industry has been revitalized with technology and increased oil production from The Bakken, Eagle Ford, and other Shale Plays. This once declining industry is now at the forefront of job creation and individuals still, for the most part, have no idea what’s going on or what kind of job they can get.
When I first saw this news about unqualified applicants, my immediate thought was that most folks applying can’t pass a drug test. Unfortuantely, that is part of it. The other part is a lack of applicants who hold CDL’s or Hazardous Materials endorsements.
At least in the Bakken, you can find a job without a problem as long as you have a pulse, pass a drug test, and can show up to work on time. I think the real issue is that people who are looking for a job don’t see the oil industry as a long term career or don’t think they are qualified. This stigma keeps the good applicants away. The oil industry needs to continue to communicate to the public that these jobs are out there, they’re not all dirty, and virtually everyone is qualified who wants a job. Whether it’s sweeping the floors at a shop in Williston, ND or sitting in the command truck at a frack site, there are plenty of jobs out there for anyone who needs work or is looking to change careers.