July 2016, Vol. 243, No. 7

TechNotes

One-Stop Site Matches Job Seekers, Petrochem Industry

A new website that helps students and adults tap into career opportunities in the petrochemical industry, which is thriving during this downturn in the energy sector, is now available.

“Many of these careers are hidden in plain sight, and once people know about them, they become interested because of the compensation, benefits and ability to have a life-long career at one employer,” said Craig Beskid, executive director of East Harris County Manufacturers Association (EHCMA).

PetrochemWorks.com is designed to help users land good-paying careers in the industry. The site features include interest-based career maps, educational resources and listings of open jobs to help users understand the prospects the industry offers, along with the skills and educational requirements needed.

“Houston’s petrochemical industry is hiring talented skilled workers,” said Roy Watson, workforce development superintendent for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and chair of EHCMA’s Workforce Development Committee, “This site is designed to help users discover the promise of this prosperous industry. It’s an exciting time for the industry, and this site will empower workers to take charge of their future.”

The platform was created through a partnership among JPMorgan Chase & Co., EHCMA and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). JPMorgan Chase invested $500,000 to develop the interactive, information-packed career exploration resource. The grant is part of the firm’s $5 million commitment in Houston to support local, innovative programs that address the skills gap between unfilled jobs that pay a good wage and the many workers who are unemployed or underemployed.

“People are much more likely to reach their career goals when they have a clear line-of-sight to their path forward,” said Carolyn Watson, head of philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase in Houston. “We also know there is a mismatch between employer needs and the skills of current job seekers. PetrochemWorks is a one-stop-shop to tackle this challenge head on.”

Over 150 petrochemical subject matter experts and project stakeholders from companies such as CP Chemical, Shell, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, Dow, TCP Group and Noltex contributed to the focus, content and outreach for the site.

“We were thrilled to help support this important initiative. The site is a revolutionary tool and can serve as a national model to help articulate and socialize career pathways to build and strengthen our nation’s workforce,” said Shawn Hulsizer, associate vice president of Product Innovation for CAEL. “It’s another resource to support our citizens by helping them to link their learning and education to enriching careers in viable industries.”

For further information, visit https://youtu.be/LV7hUmDeQxM.