Energy jobs forum set for tonight in McKeesport

Auberle, a social service agency that helps troubled children and families, will host a free, two-hour Energy Jobs Forum tonight at Auberle in McKeesport.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and energy professionals will discuss positions available within the energy industry, including jobs in Marcellus Shale gas drilling. Young people will learn about available jobs, what skills they need to get them and what training they need for specific positions.

"This is an opportunity to prepare our kids for jobs with direct input and direction from area businesses in need of workers," Auberle CEO John Lydon said in a news release.

"Everyone knows that employment in today's environment can be a challenge, but even more so for at-risk youth. These are well-paying careers that do not require a college education. We have to create these types of concrete opportunities for youth to get in front of employers who are looking to hire. The idea of the forum is simple: bring together potential employees with potential employers and tie it all together with the necessary training."

The forum will feature Community College of Allegheny County's Marcellus Initiative, which offers the training required for the positions being discussed at the forum.

Mr. Lydon said a lot of the available jobs in the Marcellus Shale gas drilling have starting annual salaries of $35,000 to $45,000. Those jobs include roustabouts -- people who set up and do the heavy labor to get a gas drilling site going -- to mechanics and electricians who maintain the site after it's set up.

In addition to youth from Auberle, teens and young adults from social service agencies and government organizations plan to attend the forum, and speakers will lay down the concrete steps to landing a job in the energy industry.

"They're going to talk about specific job openings within the companies as well as the types of positions that are available within the industry," said Auberle spokeswoman Annie Schultheis.

The event will be held from 6 to 8 tonight in the program center at Auberle's main campus, 1101 Hartman St., McKeesport. To attend or for more details, contact Ms. Schultheis at 412-673-5856, ext. 1317.

Annie Siebert:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or 412-263-1613. Twitter: @AnnieSiebert.