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Show RAAOGA gives employment figures in oil shale industry Colorado oil shale industry employment employ-ment reached 2318 at the end of June, up from 2257 jobs in January, according to the quarterly work force update and projection compiled by the Committee on Oil Shale of the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, Inc. The Committee's figures show 160 people at work in the Utah oil shale projects, pro-jects, no Utah comparisons are available from earlier quarter. The report, based on data supplied by companies which are developing oil shale projects, also summarizes the shale industry's projected employment levels at intervals through the year 2000. Most of the present employees are temporary construction workers associated with the Colony, Cathedral Bluffs and Union Oil shale projects, permanent operating and maintenance personnel at Rio Blanco Oil Shale Company Com-pany where a second in situ burn is underway, and experimental mining and exploration workers at Multi Mineral Corporation. The project sites are in Rio Blanco and Garfield counties in Northwest Colorado. Shale industry employment is projected pro-jected to increase to 2787 jobs by the end of this year. But Committee spokesman Darrell Knuffke urged that the figures be used with caution. "The overwhelming majority of these jobs will be filled by people now working work-ing for the construction companies and by local residents," he said. "Few, if any, jobs will be available to new unskilled un-skilled workers. People moving into the area without an assured job and a place to live are likely to be disappointed." The oil shale development report is issued quarterly as a planning aid for state and local governments. It is not intended to be a job forecast for the shale industry. Regional employment information is available from the Job Service of Colorado, 125 West 4th Street, Rifle, Colorado, phone (303) 625-2144. |