Challenges and Solutions

Introduction

Workforce development focuses on putting individuals in society to work. Whether it is manual labor, management, or ownership, there is a job for each individual. Training is available at all levels and for most, if not all, skill requirement. One interesting challenge for workforce development is keeping up with the ever-changing demands for specific skills. This includes retraining for current employees, to meet up-to-date requirements, or going back to school to enter a management or higher-level position. The education sector is trained and equipped to meet workforce-training needs, whether at certificate, associates, bachelor, post-baccalaureate levels. Similarly, the oilfield industry is known for creating jobs. Whenever the oil industry is expanding in an area, jobs become available in all areas of the workforce, as is the case in the Permian Basin now. Houses and restaurants are in demand, new facilities are built, infrastructure requires updating, and support personnel are brought in to the area. The problem then becomes holding on to those employees one they are a part of a company. Many leave the area because they just don’t fit in, cannot adjust, the work is too challenging, or they don’t know how to get help. All of these issues contribute to the loss of an employee costing companies’ money due to rehiring and training, but there are some things that can be done to hold on to existing employees.