OREANDA-NEWS. Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today the expansion of its Field Services business, including additional presence on the Gulf Coast and a further commitment to workforce training and development.

The expansion follows the company’s recent success in winning several contracts; in particular, a five-year contract to provide ongoing maintenance and material transfer services at seven client sites across Louisiana and Texas. Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is providing preventive, predictive and repair maintenance, as well as planning and scheduling of all maintenance activities; packaging, shipping and warehouse operational support; and maintenance and engineering support to improve asset reliability and minimize costs.

Commenting on the announcement, Jacobs Senior Vice President Field Services Lowell Wiles said, “While industry experts predict a shortage of skilled craft labor in the Gulf Coast region, Jacobs has continued to invest in the creation and refinement of development programs to not only improve recruitment, but expand the number of qualified craftspeople to resource our clients’ sustaining programs and large construction projects.”

The development programs include Jacobs’ Journeyman Certification Program, designed to take a proactive approach to identify, prepare and validate journey-level craft professionals. The program uses the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum to train and prepare individuals to earn industry-recognized certifications and credentials. To achieve this, Jacobs has become a fully accredited NCCER training assessment center, including the ability to provide crane, rigging and signal person certification. To date, more than 2,600 journeymen have participated in Jacobs’ program. The company has a goal to certify 95 percent of its entire United States Field Services workforce by January 2017.

In addition, Jacobs’ apprenticeship program has recently received Federal U.S. Department of Labor registration. This registration enables the company to train and certify craft personnel in some of the most restrictive jurisdictions in the country.

“We understand the challenges our clients face when it comes to resourcing their projects with skilled craftspeople,” said Wiles. “Our Field Services business is diligently working to pre-empt those shortages through a combination of recruiting, training and engagement programs – programs that help us grow and maintain a best-in-class workforce.

“The addition of our Gulf Coast sites as a result of our recent contract success further expands our operations in an area where we have provided field services for almost 50 years. We are proud to maintain our position as a top-tier employer and major contributor to the Gulf Coast region and at more than 80 sites across North America.”

Jacobs is one of the world’s largest and most diverse providers of full-spectrum technical, professional and construction services for industrial, commercial and government organizations globally. The company employs 60,000 people and operates in more than 30 countries around the world.