Workforce Solutions For The Energy Industry
05.22.2008
EMSI published a nice story last week on some work I did for a talent management firm out of Houston, which was helping an oil industry client with a workforce dilemma. The problem was fairly basic: Given the tight labor market for experienced energy workers in the Gulf Coast region, where else could a company look for employees that could be transitioned from other industries with minimal retraining? We devised a creative solution looking at labor market trends in U.S. manufacturing regions that resulted in a 400 percent increase in qualified candidates for the client after only two weeks of marketing the job opportunities in the regions we identified.
Here’s a link to the case study: EMSI locates talent for the energy industry.
As more regions pursue economic development strategies based on alternative energy production, where workforce needs are continuously evolving, this approach may be useful for identifying emerging talent pools–and helping people at risk of potential dislocation from some traditional U.S. manufacturing industries at the same time.


Workforce issues continue to be a key factor in determining economic potential in most areas of the country.
Interestingly (or maybe not so), none of the three remaining presidential candidates has much to say on this topic (or most other important topics, like energy, food, etc.).