:: rawblogXport ::

:: Monday, December 18, 2006 ::

Tackling the Alaska workforce deficit - By Alan Bailey, Petroleum News
Usually by 55 most workers are leaving the industry,” Cattanach said.

The combination of continuing growth in the industry and the high rate of retirement will drive a need for large numbers of new craftspeople. Without even taking into account the needs of new mega-projects, 1,200 new carpenters will be needed over the next decade, Cattanach said.

And that doesn’t take into account a desire to increase the number of workers who are resident in Alaska — 18 percent of Alaska workers are currently non-resident, Cattanach said. Increasing the proportion of carpenters who are resident to 90 percent would raise the quantity of new carpenters required to 2,100 over the decade.

Unfortunately, Alaska is unlikely to be able to import enough new craftspeople because unemployment rates in U.S. urban centers are already quite low and only a portion of unemployed people are interested in entering a craft trade.

“We’re going to have to grow our own,” Cattanach said.

posted 7:12 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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