The impact of low oil prices has been felt across Louisiana.  Layoffs haven’t just plagued the oil and gas industry, the energy and manufacturing sectors have felt the effects too.

Ryan LaGrange, Lafayette Economic Development Authority’s Manager of Workforce Development says the downturn in the oil gas industry has misplaced an estimated 8,500 industrial trade workers in Acadiana.

“In a way we’re fortunate to have these construction properties on LNG plants in the Lake Charles area as well as similar industrial trade positions at chemical plants in the Baton Rouge area that allow some of these folks to have a landing to work and you know feed their family for a time being.”

LEDA and its partners organized Thursdays industrial trades career fair in response to unemployment. 36 employers will be at the fair.  Thousands of positions ranging from highly skilled craft trade to the professional level will be available.

“there’s a lot of folks in need of industrial trades jobs based off of the slow down of the oil industry and we have a number of companies across South Louisiana that have openings to fill.

Resume critiquing and short term job training opportunities will also be available. LaGrange says getting certain certifications can make the hiring process faster for some positions.

“a lot of the energy folks have the transferable skills that these companies are looking for but these separate certifications allow them to qualify for immediate hire.”

LaGrange says this is the first industrial trades fair that LEDA has been a part of.  LEDA hosts targeted events to meet the communities employment needs.

The career fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday on the second floor of the Cajundome Convention Center.