Newly Minted Process Technicians Find Good Jobs
Published Jul 08, 2008
“PTEC” grads Rob Joseph and Lauren Donnelly at Shell refinery
With a considerable percentage of the state’s workforce scheduled to reach retirement age within the next three to five years, California localities are developing new strategies to train qualified workers for high-value positions.
Consider Contra Costa County. Public and private partners there have created innovative programs to meet future workforce needs, particularly in the energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.
“As the second-most-industrialized county in California, Contra Costa is home to four oil refineries as well as numerous other chemical and heavy industrial plants. These facilities are a vital part of Contra Costa’s diverse economy and an excellent source for high-paying jobs,” says Bob Lanter, executive director of the county’s Workforce Development Board.
In August 2006, more than 20 leading members of the area’s business, government and educational communities teamed up to launch a training program for process technicians; it helps dislocated workers transition into jobs that typically range in starting pay from $40,000 to $70,000 annually. The group’s efforts helped to secure a $952,000 training grant from the California Employment Development Department’s Workforce Development Branch.
According to Lanter, process technicians represent 40 to 60 percent of overall employment in the energy and chemical industries. Eight of the petrochemical companies located in the county will need to hire a total of at least 100 to 150 process technicians per year through 2012.
The “PTEC” program, administered at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, yielded more than 80 graduates during its first 16 months.
“By leveraging funding for training programs,” Lanter says, “the Workforce Development Board ensures that Contra Costa County remains competitive.”
Story by Valerie Pascoe
Photo by Jeff Adkins
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