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Big Spring Businesses Find Solution to Trained Worker Shortage
Big Spring Businesses Find Solution to Trained Worker Shortage 9/20/12
CBS 7 News
September 20, 2012
tguinn@cbs7.com
Big Spring - The oil boom has brought new business and people to the Permian Basin, but it has also brought along some challenges; it has taken workers away from their non-oilfield related jobs. Now those companies have had a hard time replacing those workers.
Businesses in Big Spring have had a hard time trying to find trained workers, but some have found a solution to their problem, training their workforce.
The Colorado River Municipal Water District is near completing a $14 million water reclamation plant that will bring two million more gallons of water a day for the district. The problem is, they don't have the workers to complete the project.
"Because of equipment delivery, trying to find skilled labor, t's a common problem out here in west Texas right now," John Grant, the General Manager for the CRMWD said.
The CRMWD isn't the only business feeling the sting of not enough skilled workers, other businesses have too. Now, some are turning to Howard College as their solution.
"This is what our demand is and in order for us to get more business..we need to have a trained workforce," Kinsey Hansen, Dean of Workforce Development at Howard College said.
The college has been working with area companies to train their workforce for them.
"They'll tell us what they want and we specifically create the training to meet their need," Hansen said.
Hansen says there is no limit to what they can offer for creating a larger workforce.
"There are no boundaries. If we can put it together and the business wants it, we can find someone to teach it. We are interested in providing that training," she said.
And until that workforce is ready, the CRMWD's answer for now is conservation.
The reclamation plant will be up and running in December.
Howard College says they will work with any and all businesses wanting their workers trained.