Weyburn鈥� For many years, Weyburn had something of a reputation as 小蓝视频 a community to retire in. However, the city鈥檚 executive director of economic development, Twila Walkeden, noted that two recent figures have come out in the 2016 census that might change that perception.
She pointed out that the 25 to 34 age group is the greatest proportion of all groups in Weyburn, not baby boomers. That鈥檚 significant for the oil industry, as it shows there are available workers. It also has the second lowest average age in the nation for communities of that size, and the second lowest proportion of senior citizens.
While this does something to shake off the idea of Weyburn 小蓝视频 a retirement community, she added that Good Times Magazine has a focus on Weyburn on that very topic.
Workforce demographics are significant as the oilpatch slowly comes back to life, nearly three years after oil prices began their decline in mid-2014.
While oil and gas is nine per cent of Weyburn鈥檚 business, agriculture accounts for 24 per cent.
Asked how the downturn has affected Weyburn, she said, 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen businesses close their doors. Some downsized.鈥�
Long established businesses in some cases had the flexibility to downsize and wait for the rebound, and are now hiring again. However, she noted that they aren鈥檛 able to pay as much as in the boom times, and that makes it more difficult to find people.
鈥淲e see a lot of service companies struggling to find workers,鈥� Walkeden said.
In some cases, the oilfield services companies can鈥檛 offer high enough wages to entice people to leave lower-paying, but more stable jobs. Many have become risk-averse, she noted.
To see that change, Walkeden thinks that there needs to be stability in the oil price, and that oil companies will need to be more active and aggressive. They鈥檙e also going to have to allow service companies to raise their rates.
Even the recent drop for oil prices from just under US$55 per barrel WTI to just over US$45 has meant some companies have pulled back a bit, she noted.
During the boom, a call like this often resulted in three new companies for Pipeline News to do stories on, but that hasn鈥檛 been the case for a while. However, Walkeden noted there is one oilfield business looking at Weyburn. She can鈥檛 provide details, but it is promising.
There are number of other initiatives on the back burner for Weyburn, but she noted they need a development like a large retailer or manufacturer to get the ball rolling. However, Weyburn has positioned itself for growth, with land available and a new water treatment plant. 聽
