Jun 28, 2013 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Job seekers and companies came together Friday at Greene County Fairgrounds. The 4th annual Tri-County Oil & Gas Expo of Beaver, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties had a broad offering of the many employment opportunities available in the burgeoning energy extraction industry.

Jobs from truck and heavy equipment operators to drillers, welders, security guards, draftsmen, mechanics, carpenters, electricians and engineers.

Those eager to get into the gas fields have schools and training programs as options. Tradesmen International company recruiters passed out fliers explaining the benefits available to their labor pool of professionals and took resumes from the carpenters, drillers, pipe fitters and others who stopped by their booth.

Those interested in becoming truckers and heavy equipment operators have a number of schools available. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics offers Jump Start, a four-week training regimen with flexible weekday or weekend classes in Pittsburgh, Weirton, Charleston and Clarksburg, W.Va.

“We now offer classes in natural gas extraction and distribution techniques and student loans and grants are available to those who qualify,” said recruiter Jared Manley of Douglas Education in Monessen. The school started by Tom Savini to teach makeup for horror movies has expanded over the years to teach marketable skills such as digital illustration, filmmaking, cosmetology and medical support services. Now, the center teaches the hands-on basics needed to work in the natural gas industry, including safety certification and CDL licensing.

Unemployed older workers weren’t left out of the expo. The Senior Community Service Employment Program had part-time jobs that are designed to bring retired clerical workers and other workers age 55 and older into today’s workplace of computers and smart phones and the state department of labor and industry had brochures describing the special training that could bring disabled workers back into the workplace.

“We had 35 employers participate this year and close to 300 people came to see what jobs and trainings are available,” Pennsylvania Career Link director Barb Cole said. Some companies, like Cal-Frack and Shaft Drillers International did extremely well. They had lines of people most of the day.”

The complete expo directory, along with job applications for the companies, schools and businesses that participated in this year’s event are available at the Career Link office, 4 W. High St. Waynesburg.