Free Republic

The Permian basin is on fire, and the current boom cycle in its oil industry is posing an interesting challenge that area in Texas: Right now, that challenge is a shortage of oil industry workers. The oil industry, in an attempt to keep up with increased oil production—particularly in the Permian Basin, is one-upping other employers in a mad dash to reclaim enough workers to keep the industry awash with oil. In fact, as the Dallas News pointed out on Wednesday, the industry is throwing double pay to woo workers away from other industries, such as school bus drivers, police...

The Trump economy is booming. Employers added 223,000 jobs in May instead of an expected 188,000. Unemployment is at a historic 3.8 percent, as low as it’s been since last century, and consumer confidence is skyrocketing right along with GDP. And for the first time in a long time, there are more jobs available than people to fill them."President Trump’s policies are having a tremendous positive impact on the lives of Americans of all classes and backgrounds," wrote Andy Puzder for Fox Business. "More people are working, there are more job openings, and fewer people are dependent on government. Good news for...

Orders are pouring into Columbia Steel Casting in North Portland. With the national economy surging, manufacturers are eager for the company's steel and iron components. There's a problem, though: the economy is so good here in Oregon that Columbia Steel can't find enough workers to accommodate the growing demand. Columbia has 50 open positions at its 86-acre campus and it can't expand until it fills those jobs. "It stops us from growing but it's even making it difficult for us just to meet current customer demand," said Martha Cox, Columbia Steel's chief executive.