Officials with the burgeoning oil and gas industry will look to
fill out their companies’ workforce during the inaugural Oil and
Gas Industry Job Fair on Friday.
The fair is slated from noon to 4 p.m. at the PA CareerLink at
40 Davis St. in Union Square in Bradford. It will be held in
conjunction with the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association.
All told, roughly seven companies from within the industry will
be in attendance, along with the University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford.
“The companies that are taking part have a need for and are
looking to get some good young men and women to come and work for
the industry,” Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association Executive
Director Steve Rhoads said on Wednesday, adding the fair is part of
an effort initiated last year to enhance the industry’s growing
workforce needs.
The industry primarily needs to fill entry-level positions in
the drilling and well service industry, Rhoads said.
“Those positions are ideal for men and women looking to begin a
career in oil and gas.”
Rhoads said the recent upswing in drilling for oil and gas
across the region helped play a part in holding the fair; a similar
one is being held today in Indiana, Pa.
“If we weren’t drilling as many wells in Pennsylvania, there
wouldn’t be the demand for these jobs,” Rhoads said. “We are having
trouble finding people to fill them. Hopefully, this fair will
entice people to come and talk to us. We are hoping our companies
can find the people they need and put them to work.
“I think we offer excellent opportunities for a good
career.”
Missy Holt, CareerLink specialist, said it’s the first time the
agency has held an industry-specific job fair.
“We’re not quite sure what to expect,” Holt said, adding a lot
of people have called to inquire about the fair. “We are expecting
a good turnout.”
Officials said if the fair proves to be successful, another one
could be in the offing sometime in the future.
Those looking to take part in the fair are asked to enroll with
CareerLink prior to attending. Participants can enroll online at
www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us, Holt said. If that isn’t possible,
Holt said participants can enroll at CareerLink the day of the
fair, noting the process doesn’t take long to complete.
Holt said participants can come into CareerLink anytime between
noon and 4 p.m., adding interview rooms will be available if a
representative from a company is interested in doing a job
interview with somebody that day.
“People should bring their resume with them when they come,”
Holt said, noting they might also have to fill out any necessary
forms with a prospective employer while in attendance.
Among the companies within the industry slated to be in
attendance are Dallas Morris Drilling, Gasfield Specialists,
Superior Well Services, U.S. Energy Corp., Universal Well Services,
ARG Resources, Appalachian Well Services and Nornew.
Officials said previously that across this region, the crude oil
and natural gas exploration industry is centered around small to
medium-sized independent businesses, many of which are family-owned
operations handed down through the generations.
An advertisement for the fair appears on Page 5 of today’s
edition of The Era.
