Boeing: 'Hiring in the thousands'

Piecing together Boeing Co.'s 787 Dreamliner airplane is a task that will require thousands of local workers. And throughout the economic recession, the number of out-of-work South Carolinians who have manufacturing skills but can't find a job has swelled.

So how can people apply for the estimated 3,800 jobs that could be created during the next few years?

While the facility won't open until July 2011, company officials will begin training workers well before that point, local Boeing spokeswoman Candy Eslinger said. She did not know when the company will advertise the first positions, which will be posted on www.boeing.com/employment.

"Obviously there's no jobs posted right now," she said, "but we will be hiring in the thousands."

Tim Coyle, vice president of Boeing Charleston, would not say how many hires will be local residents, but said the labor force should include a "fair amount" of employees from Charleston and from other areas.

He also would not discuss pay, except to say that Boeing offers fair compensation based on the market.

Boeing already employs about 900 workers locally, while the neighboring Global Aeronautica plant employs about 1,600 workers.

The new Boeing facility will need engineering positions such as assembly mechanics and quality inspectors, in addition to administrative staff. Company officials couldn't provide an exact employee breakdown Wednesday.

Future employees likely will follow the screening, training and hiring process set up for Boeing and Global Aeronautica's existing facility through the state's ReadySC program. Through an agreement with those companies, the program's job screeners recruit applicants for opportunities that are posted at www.sctechjobs.com.

Applicants are evaluated based on their experience and using standard hiring programs like WorkKeys, a work skills assessment program. Those who are chosen undergo a six- to eight-week training program at Trident Technical College before starting the company's training program.

That training program has graduated roughly 1,400 workers for the two companies since the training system began in 2006.

Allyson Bird contributed to this report. Reach Katy Stech at kstech@postandcourier.com.