employment

[jscottelwood]

go to "Marketplace" for listing...

[Conan71]

Wow, someone is actually hiring in this town. []

To hear some of the trolls on this forum, unemployment is the worst ever, and it's such a crappy local economy.

We're in the same boat as you at my office, trying to find welders & fitters.

[guido911]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

Wow, someone is actually hiring in this town. []

To hear some of the trolls on this forum, unemployment is the worst ever, and it's such a crappy local economy.

It is, so shut up...KFAQ

[AMP]

Demand for help typically has a surge in late August and early September.  This season there are two additional factors, other than the normal school help exodus, placing pressure on employers trying to locate qualified personnel.  

1. Back to School - Immediately following the beginning of the school year, as high school and college help leaves to return to the books leaving many positions open.

2. Increase in Minimum Wage - In addition this year with the timing of the minimum wage increase that raised the floor for a number of employees.  It again opened the musical chair movement of employees jumping ship to follow the money at firms offering higher wages for experienced help to fill their vacated school helpers openings.  

3. HB 1804 - And this season the extra burden of the Immigration hiring law coming in to effect in Oklahoma in November has created even more job vacancies in many sectors of business in Oklahoma.

This is not based on the state of the economy or the demand for new workers.  Just pointing out these three factors that are increasing the need for replacing help, and creating movement of experienced employees in the workplace.

Always a good idea to ask the job recruiter why the position you are applying for is vacant.  Is this a new position due to increased business, or is it to replace someone?  Gives you an idea of the stability of the firm, the condition of their workforce and a glimpse of what the clouds on the horizon are doing, bringing a storm or just leaving.

Skilled Welders typically have been nomatic in nature and most will chase the money.  So if there is a large project or jobs in another region paying higher wages, they will migrate there until that ends.  Normally shop welders earn far less than oil field and pipeline  welders.  Many young agressive welders may choose to travel for what appears to be more money until they settle down to what appears to be a lower paying shop environment.  

[Conan71]

AMP- maybe you don't follow employment ads real close.  Linde has been trying to fill positions for close to a couple of years- radio and print ads.  If I remember correctly, the initial cattle call was for 400.  Victory Energy put one out for 100 code welders a few months back.  I still don't think they've filled their needs either.  Hardly a seasonal need.

[AMP]

There were two parts to my post above.

One was specific to the season, which is typically a hiring frenzy due to Back to School anyway. The other was regarding the minimum wage increase, which effects most positions up to around the $15.00 per hour sector. This is created not by what a minimum wage earner is doing, but to how it effects all the other non-exempt employees in that business. One was earning $6.00 per hour then the minimum wage comes into effect so a new hire is earning about what he is. He wants a raise to $7.00 or more to offset the difference. Then the person that was earning $7.00 learns of the others raise and demands $8.75, then the worker that earned $9.00 demands $10.00 and on up the scale. Keep in mind most these folks talk to each other at lunch, have text messaging and instant message on their PCs at work and news such as pay raises and adjustments travels like wild fire through a business and industry today.

Welding positions, I addressed that above. It is a perception among many that a shop job pays less, as most young folks look at the immediate pay versus benefits and the stability of staying close to home. They also enjoyed the Per Diem checks, some were over $100 per day while they were on the road back in the 90's.

Many welders I have interviewed in the past told me they enjoy the travel and the adventure far more than having benefits such as major medical, vision and dental, that they don't see themselves using for the next 20 years or so.

With the closing of so many long term corporations, the perception of employees regarding retirement is on a downward trend. Most I worked with were looking for instant gratification and cash now, versus bennies in the future.

Few times we developed some jackpot prizes to attract applicants and for spiffs to help retain long term employees and for safety non-accident promotion drives.

After management held discussions we came up with several programs and ideas, booklets with 100 choices of gifts, trips, cruises, gift certificates to Wal Mart, even bicycles and televisions. Keep in mind most of us were over 35 yrs old and had established homes. These types of incentives were on our level. So we then asked over 400 of our core employees what they would like.

98% answered CASH

Perception is a very large factor in attracting applicants. Just as the discussions of what Tulsa needs to attract the types of families some folks think will help boost the economy here.

If one is seeking welders, fitters and blue collar shop personnel, may want to look at a locating in the city a Baseball Park with a Professional Team, a decent USAC 1/2 mile dirt track, a quality Amusement park, and other attractions that fit that type of family. The Opera and the Orchestra and Art Museums are not quite what those folks are seeking for entertainment.

Other open positions may reflect back not to the cost of living or housing in the state of Oklahoma, but the overall perception from folks not living here. I know the majority of the 900 members of our race organization that live in Texas absolutely hate having to travel here for the two events held in Oklahoma. Major complaint is the condition of the highways that beat up their transports, trailers and equipment carried inside. Toll roads, and the cost of permits for big rigs in the State of Oklahoma and Kansas is another one they dislike. Typically the cost of fuel in Oklahoma is 20 cents per gallon higher than in most parts of Texas. And they learn of the Oklahoma State Income Tax, which Texas does not have, from talking to the track workers. They also complain about the lack of quality motels and restaurants that surround Hallett, that is another big dislike on their list of doing business in Oklahoma.

So, if you are attempting to attract applicants from other states, you may find some of those problems could be affecting your outcome. Word travels fast among people today. Wages could be another factor, but I would think the perceived image is larger than the monetary issue.

[cannon_fodder]

Nor would back to school or minimum wage effect welders...

Most places in Tulsa right now can not find employees, at all levels.  I work in an industrial setting and we are short.  My wife manages retail, and they are short.  My uncle is involved with hiring for St. Francis - short on Nurses, some MD areas, and technicians as well as account managers.  Every oil sector job has been advertising nonstop for a couple years now.  Every minimum wage position is shopping for people (always are) judging by the help wanted signs on every fast food join.  QT is hiring full time staff (good bennis too).

Actually, in Tulsa right now I do not know of a sector that is not hiring.

[AMP]

I did not say Back to School or Minimum Wage had a big influence on Welding Trades directly, however it does affect them to a degree as with most non-exempt at will skilled trades positions.  I addressed that in the last paragraph of my response.  

Stated that this time of the year is always busy for hiring due to Back to School.  And this year it is coupled with the raise in wages overall due to the minimum wage increase raising the floor for all employees in their preception of the economic make up of the industry and or business they work for.  Plus the Immigration hiring law changing in Oklahoma.   Those three factors have increased the demand.  

First post was stating there are jobs available.  Not for welders or any specific industry or trade, just that there were jobs available.  My response was towards that post. Perhaps I should of put it in a quote reply.

[rwarn17588]

Silver linings can be everywhere, but AMP can always manage to find a cloud.

[xx(]

[Conan71]

AMP on local employment/economy

[Breadburner]

I hear that El Rio Verde is hiring.....