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2,600 apply for jobs at new wind turbine plant
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing Editor
About 2,600 people applied Saturday for hourly jobs at the Siemens Corp. wind turbine plant that will begin operating in Fort Madison next year. The company has announced the plant will employ about 250, which includes salaried workers.
“We didn't really know what to expect,” said Pam Jackson, supervisor of the Iowa Workforce Development offices in Keokuk and Fort Madison. “We probably were expecting 3,000 to 4,000, but we're not disappointed with the numbers. We got some good applicants.”
About 1,100 people turned in applications at the Keokuk Middle School compared to about 1,500 at Fort Madison High School.
Although Iowa Workforce Development has not broken down the figures for applications from currently employed versus unemployed people, Jackson said, “We certainly saw an even balance between those employed and unemployed.”
Most of the hourly jobs will start at $14.25 an hour and increase to $15 an hour after six months, according to Jackson.
“Originally, people thought it was going to pay about $19 per hour, which included management,” she said.
Some production supervisors already have been hired and are in Denmark for training, she added. Applications for management positions at the new plant can be made only through the company's Web site at www.powergeneration.siemens.com.
About 20 to 30 hourly employees will be hired for the first month, and then employment will increase by about 20 each month thereafter, Jackson said. The plant eventually is expected to operate three shifts per day.
“We didn't really know what to expect,” said Pam Jackson, supervisor of the Iowa Workforce Development offices in Keokuk and Fort Madison. “We probably were expecting 3,000 to 4,000, but we're not disappointed with the numbers. We got some good applicants.”
About 1,100 people turned in applications at the Keokuk Middle School compared to about 1,500 at Fort Madison High School.
Although Iowa Workforce Development has not broken down the figures for applications from currently employed versus unemployed people, Jackson said, “We certainly saw an even balance between those employed and unemployed.”
Most of the hourly jobs will start at $14.25 an hour and increase to $15 an hour after six months, according to Jackson.
“Originally, people thought it was going to pay about $19 per hour, which included management,” she said.
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About 20 to 30 hourly employees will be hired for the first month, and then employment will increase by about 20 each month thereafter, Jackson said. The plant eventually is expected to operate three shifts per day.
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