Maine’s battered skilled-trades work force is about to get a big break from CIANBRO. Where last year saw hundreds of layoffs after two mill closings and other widespread layoffs in that state, CIANBRO says it will hire 500 new employees in 2008. Representatives say they will be needing “journey level trades, pipe fitting, pipe welding, iron workers, electricians, all those different trades, and we’re looking for those people who are under employed, un-employed that have the qualities to be a CIANBRO team member.” They add that if they can’t find skilled workers in the employment market, they will train new employees. The company already has more than 200 employees taking part in skill training programs.

CIANBRO, Main’s largest construction firm, recently took over the Eastern Fine Paper mill site. It will begin a new project in March, building modules for a Texas oil refinery. That project alone is budgeted at $7 billion.

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