INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY ILLUMINATES CAREER PATHWAYS
HOUSTON, TX (MAY 25, 2016) - A new website that helps students and adults tap into career opportunities in the petrochemical industry -which is thriving during this downturn in the energy sector - is now available.
“Many of these careers are hidden in plain sight and once people know about them, they become interested because of the compensation, benefits and ability to have a life-long career at one employer,” said Craig Beskid, Executive Director of East Harris County Manufacturers Association (EHCMA).
PetrochemWorks.com is designed to help users land good-paying careers in the industry. The site features includes interest-based Career Maps, educational resources and listings of open jobs to help users understand the prospects the industry offers, along with the skills and educational requirements they’ll need to get there.
“Houston’s petrochemical industry is hiring talented skilled workers,” said Roy Watson, Workforce Development Superintendent for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and Chair of EHCMA’s Workforce Development Committee, “This site is designed to help users discover the promise of this prosperous industry. It’s an exciting time for the industry, and this site will empower workers to take charge of their future.”
The platform was created through a unique partnership between JPMorgan Chase & Co., EHCMA and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). JPMorgan Chase invested $500,000 to develop the interactive, visually-engaging, and information-packed career exploration resource. The grant is part of the firm’s $5 million commitment in Houston to support local, innovative programs that address the skills gap between unfilled jobs that pay a good wage and the many workers who are unemployed or underemployed.
“We know that people are much more likely to reach their career goals when they have a clear line-of-sight to their path forward,” said Carolyn Watson, head of philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase in Houston. “We also know that currently there is a mismatch between employer needs and the skills of current job seekers. PetrochemWorks is a one-stop-shop to tackle this challenge head on.”
More than 150 petrochemical subject matter experts and dedicated project stakeholders from companies such as CP Chemical, Shell, LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil, Dow, TCP Group and Noltex contributed to the focus, content and outreach for the site.
PetrochemWorks.com is accessible across all platforms including phones and tablets. The site features information about 60 common industry positions, a matching tool to empower future workers to find careers tailored to their skills and interests, and career maps showing growth trajectories and career transitions.
EHCMA will maintain the website, providing resources and expertise for content curation, hosting, promotion and training activities. Learn more about the project at https://youtu.be/LV7hUmDeQxM
“We were thrilled to help support this important initiative. The site is a revolutionary tool and can serve as a national model to help articulate and socialize career pathways to build and strengthen our nation’s workforce,” said Shawn Hulsizer, Associate Vice President of Product Innovation for CAEL. “It’s another resource to support our citizens by helping them to link their learning and education to enriching careers in viable industries.”
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The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Chicago, Illinois that assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to help them earn college credit for learning acquired through life and work experiences toward the completion of a postsecondary degree. CAEL works with the public sector, private sector industries, and higher education institutions to ensure that adult students receive the most efficient training and education to occupy a meaningful professional place in a 21st century economy.
East Harris County Manufacturing Association (EHCMA) is an alliance of more than 130 chemical manufacturers, refiners and supporting distribution facilities in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, La Porte, North Channel and Pasadena. Its member companies transform natural resources into the materials needed to make many essential consumer products such as cosmetics, gasoline, jet fuel, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, electronics, building supplies, household goods, clothes, plastics, automobile parts and thousands of other everyday items that are a part of your daily routine. As the largest industry organization of its kind in the world, EHCMA is committed to delivering current news on events and issues that affect our industry.
EHCMA’s Workforce Development Committee is leading the Petrochemical industry efforts to promote and encourage the next generation of technical careers. Its efforts in the workforce development arena are focused towards removing barriers that prevent individuals from seeking high paying career paths in this growing industry. Providing scholarships, leading education forums, and the development of an industrial workforce survey are a few of the major accomplishments of this unique team.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the largest bank in Houston, with 217 branches and about 7,000 local employees. The firm serves more than 1 million local customers, many of the top corporations and leading institutions across the city. The bank has pledged $5 million for local workforce training, investing in people so Houston can keep building toward a brighter future. As the firm celebrates its 150th anniversary in Houston, much has changed in the city. But one thing remains the same: JPMorgan Chase will never stop working for Houston.
