Are the Oil Field Jobs Real?

 While looking over the Oil Field Jobs that are listed on different sites I find one big thing in common.  The requirement of experience usually three to four years.  In Ohio this experience is not profound! 

 I said OK self where are these employers going to find the candidates at then, why would there be a need? It seems as if the oil patch has a high turn over rate which tells me something must be wrong.  So are these companies  just bouncing employees back and forth, it kind of appears to be the case, as if not they will will be out of employees very soon. 

  The outlook for high paying oil field jobs in Ohio I believe is a myth with a few exception mainly in the engineering sector. We have to much unemployment for the companies to willing to pay wages like in ND with a small work force in comparison.

   You might say with CHK screwing up, the economy screwed up, the EPA like a buzzard awaiting kind of puts a shadow of doubt on the whole boom.

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Permalink Reply by James McDowell on July 22, 2012 at 12:58am

I think that the jobs are real they just need experience up here now. They will bring workers in from all over and in order to do so, they must pay big bucks. Local Ohio workers will get jobs but they will be trained in the proper fields first. These jobs will be found on a more local level at entry level pay which in most cases is higher than any wages being paid in the community at the present time.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 1:17am

  As long as they have trained experienced workers they will not be hiring local. Perhaps it is the uncertainty of the play and politics. I would think that if the game plan was to be in Ohio for say the next say 5 to 20 years they would be trying hard to establish a trained workforce to reduce cost. I do not see any jobs where they advertise will are willing to train. Exception to that of course is fracking crews or tanker drivers and even then some of them are requiring experience in the oil field. 

  When it comes to drivers that gets interesting. Will a holder of a CDL be willing to give up a cushy drop and hook regional where they get home on weekends and even if planned days off home time. Or will they be willing to be on call 24/7  variable pay checks, hard work that can extend a work day to well over  14 hours and play the log book game?

   Surely there are people in Ohio that are highly skilled in areas that are even higher in technical requirements that could cross train readily. Perhaps the problem lies with HR where someone behind a desk thinks it takes a masters degree  to find a blown fuse or a tool and die maker to insert a helicoil.

Permalink Reply by James McDowell on July 22, 2012 at 1:25am

I do agree with that Billy. I have hired people with both Masters Degrees and just common sense. I will take my chances on someone with great common sense over a 4 year degree that you are paying to get anyway. The problem is always getting in, but once you are in you are able to float through the many jobs with the connections you make. I wish more of the hard working people with common sense and the ability to figure out problems would get opportunities to shine rather than being passed up because of how you look on paper.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 3:05am

 At the base where I had worked before it closed the acquiring company's rep asked me how do they establish productivity in production? Hmm I responded in a repair facility you never know what a repair will consist of so establishing production time is not possible. His response was in other words you have people sitting doing nothing. 

  I said at times it might be slow but if you ever go to a ER room you would appreciate it if your repair wasn't back logged.  I have seen a miniature machine screw 2/56 broken off in a $100,000  aircraft guidance take 5 minutes to remove to over a day. I have seen jobs sit for days as cross training was not utilized.

  Those that say it's not my job, wouldn't have a job, if I found they could have done the job!

  I guess I am showing my age lol. Drill Baby Drill!

Permalink Reply by craig on July 22, 2012 at 4:10am

I personally know 3 individuals that had no background in the gas/oil industry that now have jobs in the oil/gas industry. This is all within the last year or so. One works for the folks that install the rat holes before drilling starts. Another works in the fracing business and the third works in the drill pipe supply business. The lowest paid one is the guy who works in the fracing business...he only made $54,000 the first 8 months that he worked there and he now spends alot more than what he used to at my business on every visit. 

It appears to me the jobs are there IF they include manual labor. One of the above folks has already moved 'up' to a less physically demanding job in the oil/gas industry. 

I'll agree that the *really* good paying jobs take experience but you also have to want to work.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 4:15am

 Glad to hear that 3 people you know have been hired. Although area also plays a part. 

Permalink Reply by craig on July 22, 2012 at 4:39am

The biggest obstacle appears to be that you are drug free and somewhat in physical shape :)

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 5:19am

 Rather strange they seldom state that upon the applications! I find it amazing how many people will take the time to fill out applications knowing full well they can not pass a drug test! 

 If you can't break through the HR department "drug free and somewhat in physical shape"  will never be known. Perhaps a upfront charge for drug testing needs to be formulated you pay personally for it, if you pass you are reimbursed on spot, you fail tough luck.  As far as physically fit? I wouldn't want to do a Iron Man test but would welcome a boot camp obstacle course, lol.

  Ya best be able to haul it it if something gives. 

2s72s0k9mm8gdPermalink Reply by 2s72s0k9mm8gd on July 22, 2012 at 9:27am

The boom is real.

Steel Mills and trucking Companies are booming. Machine shops are prospering. Our local Forging Company is inundated with Gas Well related work. GE in Grove City is hiring and rumored to be building on to meet the expanded demand for their huge engines used to compress & pump all this shale gas and related byproducts. Midstream Companies are getting out and about leasing up Pipeline R.O.W. These deals can be nearly as lucrative to the land owner as the gas leases. Pipelines are being put in all over. I know of at least 2 local Contractors who are doing work for the Gascos. My neighbor , who works for an excavating and paving Contractor , has been working all the hours he wants all over Western PA and Eastern Ohio doing excavating work for the Gascos. The list goes on and on.

I am sure the Drillers are smart enough to realize they must gradually get a base of more local employees trained and proficient at this. There's still demand back home in Texas , Louisiana , Oklahoma , etc. , and these skilled workers are needed back home too.

It is my opinion that alot of us just don't realize the magnitude of this. This is HUGE and time will prove that their current doubts are unfounded. But , then again  , Rome wasn't built in a day! 

Sure looks like a boom to me.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 22, 2012 at 9:34am

 Your over in Pa aren't you Glenn? Because it is not happening in my area of Ohio. 

2s72s0k9mm8gdPermalink Reply by 2s72s0k9mm8gd on July 22, 2012 at 9:41am

Yes , I'm in PA.

Permalink Reply by lynn on July 22, 2012 at 2:57pm

It is hard to be patient when you see people all around you needing work.  This is just starting, mahoning county hasn't seen the real effects yet.  I have a customer in columbiana co who was really angry about chk not hiring locals.  Out of curiosity he went to a job fair they put on.  Ten openings for truck drivers, 20 people applied.  The chk rep told him only 3 passed the drug test, they had no choice except to bring their own people in.  We will see the jobs, we just need to remember that good things come to those who wait.  Hang In There!!

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