And this is the problem Oklahoma has been tackling head on through the state's unique work force training package.

Armed with the Training for Industry Program and an outstanding vocational-technical and University system, Oklahoma has been assisting its new and recently expanding companies in identifying and training the workers they need as new jobs are created -- even in a tight labor market.

Seagate, one of the nation's leading computer disc drive designers and producers, is the third largest manufacturer in Oklahoma City, employing approximately 2,000.

Last May, Seagate announced it would relocate its worldwide telephone technical support organization to Edmond, Okla., on the outskirts of Oklahoma City. The expansion brought with it an additional 100 high-tech jobs and occupies 19,200 square feet at the Northpoint Commerce Center.

"The local vo-tech in Edmond, Francis Tuttle, customizes the training for each company and can do it in a very fast turnaround time," said Janet Yowell, client services representative for the Edmond Economic Development Authority. "In the case of Seagate, the company needed its new employees hired and trained within 30 to 45 days. Francis Tuttle was able to do it."

Francis Tuttle is one of 29 Vocational-Technical School Districts across the state of Oklahoma that provide direct assistance to industries in work force training.

More than 1,300 vocational programs in seven different occupational areas are offered by these systems.

Qualifying new and expanding companies can take advantage of free pre-employment or pre-production training as part of the Training for Industry Program (TIP) incentive that can get them up and running quickly.

"The Vo-Tech system here in Oklahoma, especially on the technical side, has become an integral part of our management thinking when it comes to hitting the ground and becoming a successful center," said Bill Rendeluck, Employment Manager for Seagate's Oklahoma City Operation. "I don't believe that we could have been as successful with the transition, start-up and training if we would have had to do all of the training on our own."

In addition, the vo-tech system provides direct assistance to companies in developing job-specific training programs for employees. Seagate has had a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Valley Vo-Tech system in Oklahoma City in providing on-site training for the company's technical staff.

Commercial Financial Services expects 9,000 new jobs
Perhaps the biggest announcement of potential job creation by any company in the state of Oklahoma -- and perhaps anywhere -- comes with the announced expansion of Commercial Financial Services in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. CFS, the largest purchaser of charged-off credit card debt in the United States, anticipates the creation of over 9,000 new jobs over the next five years within these two cities.

Commercial Financial Services qualified for, and is taking advantage of, the Training for Industry Program's pre-employment training. This incentive provides customized training specifically designed for a particular company by the local vo-tech system and company management.

Pre-employment training involves 16 to 120 hours of a prospective employee's time, depending on the training needed. The specific skills required by the company are taught and tested.

Consumer Financial Services also attributes its recent expansion decision to Oklahoma's Quality Jobs Program. Based on the qualifying job creation criteria, CFS can receive a rebate of approximately $13.8 million annually for 10 years, based on a projected payroll of $322 million.