Chemical Engineering November 2011 - 20

Buss-SMS-Canzler
Employer
Solvent
Recovery
Newsfront
As the retirement rate increases, the
transfer of process and plant knowledge
from older engineers to younger
ones is going to become increasingly
critical. For companies, the crucial aspect
of that issue is not only the transfer
of knowledge, Jacobson says, but
the transfer of the sense of judgment
that comes with experience.
Recruitment signs for future
Despite the current shortage of engineering
talent and likely increased
demand in the future, hiring activity
among chemical industry workers is
only mildly better than the same time
last year, says Ropella. To a large extent,
that is explained by an economic
climate in the aftermath of the recessionary
period in 2008 and 2009.
Many company leaders are not feeling
confident in the economy, and the U.S.
Congress hasn't made progress on jobcreation
legislation. " There are clear
signs that if the economy improves,
hiring will increase, " Ropella said.
Demand for workers in the upstream
processing of natural gas is particularly
strong right now, said Ropella,
including positions related to drilling
and hydraulic fracturing chemicals.
Engineering positions having to do
with renewable energy technologies
also remain strong. For engineers willing
to work abroad, there are many
positions available in China, Ropella
says.
China's many infrastructure
projects require a large supply of engineers,
which China is unable to meet.
Recruiters at Engineering Resource
Group (Morris Plains, N.J.; www.engineeringresource.com)
point out that
hiring activity is improved modestly
from last year in New Jersey, but has
slowed in recent months,
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Weak housing; strong influence
The sluggish housing market is playing
a significant role in job-seeking
ing the economic situation. Company
president Jim Terkovich says that
companies are increasingly searching
for candidates that are exact matches
with regard to experience and qualifications.
" Some clients have staffing
needs, but they are looking for that
perfect match, and they are willing to
wait for that person to come along, "
Terkovich commented.
%
%
Chemical
manufacturer 50.2
EPC
company 28.4
Equipment
manufacturer 7.2
Regulatory
agency 1.2
Self-employed 5.7
Government
laboratory 2.8
University 4.5
FIGURE 5. Almost 90% of survey respondents
work for chemical makers,
engineering, procurement, construction
(EPC) firms, or are self-employed
and recruitment. " The economy has
made it a real challenge to move, " says
David L. Barron, a labor and employment
attorney with Cozen O'Connor, a
Texas-based law firm specializing in
labor and workforce issues.
Peterson, who also sees a shortage of
chemical engineers, suggests that the
depressed housing market represents
a significant hurdle in filling openings,
mostly because of the difficulty in selling
homes when relocation is required.
" Chemical engineers that are willing
to relocate will have no problem
finding jobs, " Peterson says, pointing
out that there are many jobs available
in Texas and Louisiana, for example,
especially for those workers with between
five and 20 years of experience.
However, in many cases, candidates
are unable to sell their homes, or may
be unwilling to sell at current prices
to avoid losing equity that they have
established. Meanwhile,
cost-saving
efforts on the part of many companies
have meant that the relocation packages
offered to potential employees
are generally smaller and less comprehensive
than they have been historically,
notes Ropella.
One situation where relocation
packages may get a boost is where a
top-performing individual may have
several companies interested. Peterson
says he has seen cases where companies
offer more attractive relocation
packages, rather than significantly
higher salaries, as enticements to attract
candidates.
■
Scott Jenkins
Energy efficient
vapour permeation and
pervaporation membrane
systems for solvent
recovery, dehydration and
purification
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Chemical Engineering November 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering November 2011
