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January 11, 2008
Employers discuss staffing woes
By MARIANNE KOBAK - EDFP Business Editor
ELKO - Companies looking for employees or wanting to retain the ones they have may need to network with other businesses in Elko County.
Some of the largest employers in the county met with three staffing agencies and Nevada Job Connect Thursday during an Elko County Economic Diversification Authority meeting to discuss employment issues in the area.
Elaine Barkdull Spencer, executive director of ECEDA, said the meeting went well.
“I think the icing on the cake was ending the discussion with the information from the major employers,” she said. “There was a lot of networking going on, I'd say.”
Barkdull Spencer said companies need to help each other “play host” to new employees by helping spouses find work and assisting new hires with finding housing.
Debbie Hoover of Wal-Mart said the Elko store has had a hard time staffing. The store has 320 employees, but it needs 20 more people.
Kelly Wilson of Pacific Steel and Recycling said when the company's facility at the Elko County Railport is built it will need 20 people “right away.”
Representatives from Barrick Gold North America and Newmont Mining Corp. both said recruiting technical positions is their biggest challenge.
Mary Korpi of Newmont said the company started doing internships with engineering students so it can “scoop them up” as new hires.
Brent Chamberlain of General Moly said in about a year the new mine will need 300 to 400 employees.
“Our challenge will be to find enough skilled people to start the training process,” he said.
One of the solutions for all of these companies may be the local staffing agencies.
Price Mine Service Inc. specializes in staffing mines and will open an office in Elko in a few weeks, said owner Jerry Carlson. Price Mine has offices in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
“We keep hearing people say we can't find people. ... Elko, Nevada, isn't the only one with a problem of retention and recruitment,” Carlson said.
He said his company tried different strategies to fill positions for mines. Price Mine assembles a small group of electricians, mechanics or other skilled workers and rotates them through the mines that need them. The company also helps to train temporary workers so the companies can then hire the top two or three from the group.
Two other employment agencies, American Staffing and SOS Staffing, also discussed what they can offer to employers in the area. Both companies have temporary to permanent placement available and will help recruit employees for companies. Both agencies will screen employees - background checks and drug screening - for the businesses.
“It's kind of an art to fit the right person with the right qualities to the right job,” said Katy Bloomfield of American Staffing.
The government also is available to help businesses find employees.
“I don't want to scare you, but yes we're from the government and we want to help you,” said Lori Roa of Nevada JobConnect.
Nevada JobConnect can watch new hires take tests, train and help people apply for jobs. Businesses also can use Nevada JobConnect by having their applications for positions online.
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