FLEETGUARD EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND WORK
Thursday, March 2nd, 2006 -- 11:53 AM
It?s been two weeks since Fleetguard Inc., announced plans to close their Neillsville Muffler facility, and one local employment expert is ?optimistic? about the region?s ability to absorb the soon-to-be-displaced workers. The muffler plant employs around 200 people, they?ll be phased out beginning this spring.
Jody Connor of the Clark County Job Center says area workers have a good reputation and are already coveted by other employers.
"(Employers) see this as a skilled and disciplined workforce," Connor says. "There have been employers calling and saying, 'how do we get a hold of these people'."
Specifically, the welding and fabricating skills of the West Plant employees make them extremely employable elsewhere.
"If the economy is not booming, it's not bad. Metal fabricating businesses are doing quite well. There's a big demand for welders, metal fabricators and for general production workers."
One downside is Neillsville-based employees may have to drive a good distance to find job opportunities. Connor will be holding a meeting with plant employees next Tuesday.
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