Job Seekers Hopeful for Bakken Oil Employment

By Gillette Vaira

Story Published: Jan 12, 2012 at 6:42 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 13, 2012 at 3:38 PM MST on KULR8.com

BILLINGS – Philip Perry is hoping to find employment in the oil fields near Williston, N.D.

“This stuff that it sounds like they do, it’s something that’s going to be around for awhile,” Perry said. “It’s not just something you’re worried about going away when the boom kind of ends.”

Perry and more than 70 others crowded the Billings Job Service to learn about employment with an oil company located in the Bakken. Recruiter Ronald Liechty is trying to fill 30 positions in January, and he calls this a slow month. He usually fills 80 to 100 positions per month.

“The men and the gals up here in the Montana and Idaho area are used to working out in inclement weather,” said Liechty with Rocky Mountain Recruiting. “And they’re physical, strong guys and have a very good commitment.”

The oil fields operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and there aren’t enough workers to meet the demand.

“Williston, N.D., for instance, we’re on 6.3 trillion barrels of crude,”

Liechty said. “It’s the biggest find in North America ever. Bigger than Saudi Arabia, anything. And so they just can’t find enough local people to do the jobs, and they’ve already done that. So now they’re reaching out to find people willing and able to work.”

Liechty is looking to hire mechanics, electronic techs, drivers, and a variety of other workers. They pay a minimum of $60,000 per year. They house employees in man camps, pay for meals, and reimburse travel expenses for employees who commute home on their days off.

“We’re looking at a 30, 40 year job,”

said Liechty. “We’re not looking at just two years and back. It’s just a full-time job, permanent job we’re looking for.”
Perry said the 15 days on, six days off schedule doesn’t scare him.

“Not ideal to maybe be away from your family for a week or two at a time, but it’s what you got to do,” Perry said.
Liechty estimates he has hired 150 people from Billings so far, and he said the company has nearly 1,000 employees in the Bakken. Liechty said many people hesitate about taking a job in the oil fields because they don’t have experience, but he said the company will train if they can do the physical, outside labor.