Educational partnerships ensure bright energy future

Joe Massaro

This year, Braskem, in partnership with Eastern Controls and Delaware County Community College, announced a new, eight-week Process Operator Academy designed to train workers in the petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and other industries. Program participants take hands-on courses at the academy that provide skills to be successful process operators, including in the natural gas industry.

The last decade has seen a sharp decline in the talent pool of skilled workers in the chemical and petroleum industry available to fill high-demand jobs as a result of the retirement of a generation of workers. Building a skilled workforce through training programs like the partnership with Delaware County Community College delivers highly trained workers to a field experiencing growing demand.

See more about this innovative program in this video:

Discussing the opportunities for the workforce in the chemical industry in Pennsylvania, PCIC President Abby Foster said, “In 2018, there were close to $200 billion in new/announced chemical industry investments in the U.S. — some of which are here in Pennsylvania.

“With the continued responsible development of our natural gas resources, as both industry feedstock and fuel, we can expect to add more than 100,000 jobs regionally in the chemical and petrochemical downstream application markets and supply chains,” she added.

It’s clear the opportunity for a bright energy future being fueled by natural gas is present in the state. Educational partnerships between colleges, universities and the energy industry are making sure our state has the workforce to meet the demand.

Joe Massaro

Joe Massaro is based in Bravo Group's Pittsburgh office and has deep energy industry expertise. He previously served as the field director for a Pennsylvania-based oil and gas industry grassroots PR firm.

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