WEXFORD — By the middle of the next decade this region is expected to have a shortage of nearly 80,000 workers due to demand in the petrochemical industry.

In an effort to combat that shortage, and make sure the local work force is prepared for what they believe will be an influx of jobs in that industry, Shell Pennsylvania Chemicals and the Community College of Beaver County are focusing on education and recruiting.

Officials from the two organizations shared their outlook for the future during the annual Priority2Work annual dinner Tuesday in Wexford.

Michael Marr, business integration lead for Shell Pennsylvania, said work on the organization’s Beaver County petrochemical plant — also known as a cracker plant — has been moving quickly since the project began in 2013.

Since then, the site has been cleared and Route 18 has been rerouted to allow for a larger buffer zone. Marr said the site was a no-brainer for developers, given its access to the river, railroads and proximity to Interstate 376.

The facility will take ethane extracted from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in the region and use, “heat, pressure and chemistry” to convert it into ethylene via the cracker plant.

From there, it will be transformed into polyethylene and made into pellets that are sold to plastic production companies.

The pellets can be made into any number of household items, including plastic packaging, sports equipment and outdoor furniture.

Marr estimated that about 6,000 construction jobs have and will continue to be generated during the plant’s building phase.

Once built the plant is expected to spawn about 600 permanent jobs, many of which will in the chemical engineering, health and safety management and maintenance fields. Marr said other engineering skills also will be needed, including workers in the fields of mechanical, electrical, environmental and civil engineering.

“If you have an engineering degree and you have that aptitude … and you’re interested in working in the chemical industry, you pretty much can find a path somewhere,” Marr said.

He said this week, the first 40 operator positions were posted for application, with interviews expected to begin soon.

“We’re definitely ramping up and we’re looking to take on new employees to meet our needs as we later on transition into an operating site,” Marr said.

Because the jobs are technical in nature and will often require a focus on continued education, Marr said Shell has joined with the Community College of Beaver County to train a new work force.

John Goberish, dean of work force and continuing education for the college, said the jobs associated with the cracker plant are unlike the manufacturing jobs of the past. This can cause confusion for potential students and their parents, who may not see a future in the industry.

“These aren’t the manufacturing jobs you remember from your father or grandfather,” Goberish said, adding that post-secondary education is needed.

The college spent time developing a two-year associate degree process technology program, visiting similar colleges in the Houston area that focus on producing workers for the energy and manufacturing facilities there.

Because Pennsylvania is anticipated to become the second- largest energy hub in the country, the demand for workers will be high, Goberish said.

The program, which has been in operation for a few years, was given a shot in the arm via a $1 million dollar grant from Shell to create a process training center on campus. The company also provides scholarships to students at the college, Goberish said.

The focus, he said, is on creating a work force that can perform the technical aspect of the jobs, while also being able to problem solve, troubleshoot, work with teams and plan. Goberish said a commitment to continuous learning and willingness to lead are also key for the jobs coming to the region.

Goberish said there will also be a demand to fill welding, skilled labor and transportation positions once the plant is up and running at the start of the next decade.

There are also hopes that additional production facilities will come to the area.

Marr said Shell officials anticipate the area providing at least a 30-year ethane supply for the cracker plant, with many more years after that.

Priorty2Work, which sponsored the event, serves the region in helping displaced workers or those seeking a change of career by providing skills training and other support.

More information on the nonprofit, volunteer-run organization can be found by calling 724-935-0252.