Military Contractors to Tap Guam's Labor Pool

Military contractors seek to tap Guam’s labor pool
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff
October 22, 2007

Military contractors will start tapping the local labor pool as they gear up for a major construction boom sprouting from military buildup on Guam in the coming years.
Job-seekers, who have expertise in construction work and related fields, will have the chance to meet with potential employers during the Career/Job Fair to be held at the University of Guam Fieldhouse on Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hundreds of job opportunities will be offered by 35 companies participating in the job fair organized by the UOG Career Development Office.

“This is the first time that we have military contractors joining our event, and we are very excited to have them this year,” said Leah Beth Naholowaa, director of the UOG Career Development Office.

The $15-billion military expansion plan, which involves the transfer of 8,000 Marines and their 10,000 dependents from Okinawa to Guam, entails the construction of new housing units, road infrastructure, power plants, water treatment facilities and new schools among others.

Navy officials last week told the Guam Contractors Association that the amount of construction projects could reach about $530 million in the next fiscal year and the coming years. Construction companies will need approximately 50,000 construction workers in a span of three to five years.

The $100 million expansion of Kilo Wharf is the biggest project that the military began undertaking this year.

Joining the military contractors at the fair are regular local companies hunting for candidates to fill various positions.

“We are expecting thousands of participants to join as holiday season is coming up and a lot of our students and alumni as well as the public are looking for a part-time as the holiday season is coming up,” Naholowaa said.

The UOG Career Development Office organizes a job fair every semester as part of its mission to assist students and alumni toward their foray into the workforce. It guides jobseekers in finding self-direction and developing personal responsibility in the career decision making and the job search process.

“We hope that the public will take advantage of this opportunity,” Naholowaa said. “I would like to encourage applicants to come as if they are going to be interviewed.”

She advises job applicants to “dress appropriately, bring several copies of their resume and most importantly bring their positive attitude.”