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Oil boom leeches away workers in small towns

Enid News -- WOODWARD, Okla. — The local prison is so short on guards that inmates can sometimes just walk away. A gas station barely has enough cashiers to keep up with the trucks filling the parking lot. And “help wanted” signs seem to hang from every restaurant and shop.

Yet almost no one is interested in the jobs.

This is the flip side of the nation’s oil and natural gas boom. Although the expansion of drilling has breathed economic life into many small Oklahoma towns, the lucrative opportunities also are drawing people away from traditional service-sector jobs and even once-coveted state positions.

The result: Many businesses and government agencies now struggle to find enough workers. Most able-bodied people can double or triple their income in the oil patch.

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Submitted Aug 14, 2012 By: aservant

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investmentdr Champion Author Cleveland Posts:4,039 Points:1,457,000 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 3:53:25 AM Ignore investmentdr Report Abuse like all the oil gushers are in Manhattan
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,955 Points:754,160 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 2:33:31 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Entitlement society plain and simple. Sad.
memo81 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,358 Points:446,450 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 2:25:11 AM Ignore memo81 Report Abuse Interesting.
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,795 Points:618,270 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 2:25:09 AM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse From article: "The statewide unemployment rate is the fourth lowest in the nation, at 4.7 percent, and more than 6,200 jobs have been added in the mining sector since last year, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission." Why is there still unemployment if companies and the state can't find enough workers--too good to work? Cut off the handouts and put people to work. “The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.” —Judge Judy [Edited by: johntxx at 8/14/2012 8:28:03 AM EST]
Blismo Champion Author Arizona Posts:2,149 Points:406,185 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 2:13:50 AM Ignore Blismo Report Abuse ok
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,196 Points:521,505 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:59:44 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Ouch!
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,533 Points:389,120 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:34:21 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse I can't blame them -- get paid while you can!
Evilmaddog Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,332 Points:959,500 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:32:01 AM Ignore Evilmaddog Report Abuse good for them
rcornero Sophomore Author Toms River Posts:225 Points:367,560 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:17:05 AM Ignore rcornero Report Abuse Supply and demand, baby!
MImusicman Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,883 Points:409,625 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:13:24 AM Ignore MImusicman Report Abuse Good for them.
58salty Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:6,645 Points:631,840 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:11:35 AM Ignore 58salty Report Abuse OK
Agarre Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,335 Points:263,785 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:00:56 AM Ignore Agarre Report Abuse Indeed
grandpadon28110 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:4,726 Points:1,144,260 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 1:00:18 AM Ignore grandpadon28110 Report Abuse So.
ReddevilNO Champion Author New Orleans Posts:3,381 Points:582,890 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 12:43:43 AM Ignore ReddevilNO Report Abuse Ok.
cdrrod Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:4,164 Points:785,725 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 12:28:15 AM Ignore cdrrod Report Abuse Don't think I want to visit down there! Don't pick up hitchhikers!!!
wegman Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:7,817 Points:2,090,500 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:45:26 PM Ignore wegman Report Abuse Good, high pay jobs are a BAD thing?
jcdakota Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,347 Points:361,345 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:31:24 PM Ignore jcdakota Report Abuse Local economies can't compete with flash in the pan big oil jobs. Hasn't big oil caused enough problems?
otherdave Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,408 Points:1,271,335 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:27:59 PM Ignore otherdave Report Abuse Gotta go where the money's at.
twobroke61 Champion Author Michigan Posts:8,390 Points:1,591,210 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:21:50 PM Ignore twobroke61 Report Abuse chuckwthompson said it right
defiancegasman Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,080 Points:1,323,260 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:21:50 PM Ignore defiancegasman Report Abuse Try paying above minimum wages. As far as taking people off of welfare, they would still qualified if thy had 1 child at the wages being offered!! Or did all you REPUBLICANS forget that SUPPLY and DEMAND for workers too! More than the OVERPAID CEO's need to be paid more to do the job when there is a shortage of people to do it!!
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:9,250 Points:1,697,335 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:19:26 PM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse With those driller jobs come health issues
gmcgas Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,963 Points:1,716,120 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:19:18 PM Ignore gmcgas Report Abuse hummmmmmm $11. a hour for $20.00 hr? hummmm wonder what the problem is?
leeso1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,626 Points:1,376,025 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:18:22 PM Ignore leeso1 Report Abuse maybe they should offer higher pay
ticouneON Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,637 Points:947,005 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:15:09 PM Ignore ticouneON Report Abuse Ok
albyneau Sophomore Author California Posts:249 Points:116,040 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:10:03 PM Ignore albyneau Report Abuse DITTO chuckwthompson's POST!!!!
firasatali Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,110 Points:570,000 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:07:14 PM Ignore firasatali Report Abuse ok
Happytalk Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,149 Points:580,020 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:57:55 PM Ignore Happytalk Report Abuse ok now what
chuckwthompson Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,770 Points:580,110 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:57:41 PM Ignore chuckwthompson Report Abuse Fill the positions with the people on unemployment and welfare. If they refuse, then cut off their payments.
Z06KY Champion Author Louisville Posts:5,155 Points:907,665 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:57:26 PM Ignore Z06KY Report Abuse Bull
gassy4u Champion Author Mobile Posts:3,763 Points:1,326,210 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:56:11 PM Ignore gassy4u Report Abuse Cut off the freeloaders.
smenzel Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,065 Points:1,106,880 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:52:45 PM Ignore smenzel Report Abuse Interesting
eddyp94 Champion Author Ontario Posts:8,163 Points:1,660,835 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:52:03 PM Ignore eddyp94 Report Abuse I don't believe everything they say...
pepinoNC Champion Author Raleigh Posts:2,164 Points:660,740 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:49:49 PM Ignore pepinoNC Report Abuse All the prison has to do is increase the pay of the guards and they will get plenty of applicants.
sehonda Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,048 Points:917,960 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:49:08 PM Ignore sehonda Report Abuse menial openings
LVNV6ofSpades Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:1,624 Points:362,260 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:48:30 PM Ignore LVNV6ofSpades Report Abuse Eliminate liberal welfare and put them to work.
bbigred Veteran Author Lansing Posts:427 Points:297,950 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:47:54 PM Ignore bbigred Report Abuse They to pay the workers more.
Gasazhunter Champion Author Phoenix Posts:4,220 Points:1,029,670 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:47:21 PM Ignore Gasazhunter Report Abuse Sad.
kosciak Champion Author Hartford Posts:1,106 Points:536,525 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:43:41 PM Ignore kosciak Report Abuse ok
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:7,292 Points:1,640,885 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:42:31 PM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse Boom or Bust.
Rans35PG Champion Author Modesto Posts:2,470 Points:997,000 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:38:41 PM Ignore Rans35PG Report Abuse offer a job they will come
SteveMartin Champion Author New Orleans Posts:4,438 Points:887,365 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:37:15 PM Ignore SteveMartin Report Abuse Too much money problem.
lgwhitlock Champion Author Chico Posts:7,400 Points:1,688,420 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:31:13 PM Ignore lgwhitlock Report Abuse However I wonder how long those oil jobs will last. I guess work while you can and save up before the jobs run out...
NavyEOD Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:10,016 Points:2,023,100 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:26:45 PM Ignore NavyEOD Report Abuse Go where the moneys at...
Scoutca All-Star Author Orange County Posts:525 Points:1,588,160 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:25:26 PM Ignore Scoutca Report Abuse Eventually the word will get out and people will come to take those jobs which are better than no jobs other places they may be living??? Brings an interesting perspective to employment issues???
sdchris Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,556 Points:738,600 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:23:42 PM Ignore sdchris Report Abuse ok
wshutton Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,682 Points:927,120 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:15:41 PM Ignore wshutton Report Abuse They never say anything about paying those workers more. Nor offering benefits.
NO_SWEAT Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,355 Points:1,081,265 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:14:18 PM Ignore NO_SWEAT Report Abuse Ok
Pozole Champion Author Portland Posts:9,614 Points:1,597,445 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:14:17 PM Ignore Pozole Report Abuse ...yep, bucks in the oil fields if you want to be around those chemicals and foul atmosphere...
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:9,263 Points:1,827,985 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:11:50 PM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse need to be paying more to kept them
findcheap Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:9,612 Points:2,012,800 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Aug 13, 2012 9:11:36 PM Ignore findcheap Report Abuse Ok