Regional hiring event connects eastern Kentuckians to energy, manufacturing careers

Published on Apr 30, 2026

Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) Workforce Solutions partnered with Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and its EKY Talent Network to host a regional hiring event on Tuesday, April 28, at the college’s Technology Drive Campus. 

The hiring event connected job seekers across Eastern Kentucky with high-demand career opportunities in energy, manufacturing, and skilled trades. 

The day was structured to help individuals with relevant or transferable skills connect directly to real job opportunities. The inclusion of virtual interviews ensured that distance was not a barrier for those unable to attend in person.

“We were glad to partner with SOAR and the EKY Talent Network to open doors for people across our region,” said Robin Harris, ACTC executive director of Workforce Solutions. “When education and industry come together like this, it creates real opportunities and lasting impact for Eastern Kentucky workers.”

Among the featured employers was WECTEC Staffing Services LLC, a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, which focuses on nuclear outage work.

This type of work involves scheduled maintenance at power plants, where skilled technicians perform critical testing, repairs, and system upgrades.

Currently, more than 40 Eastern Kentuckians are working in nuclear outage roles across the country, earning strong wages and bringing those earnings back to their home communities. 

These roles, while requiring travel, offer several advantages, including competitive pay often exceeding local wages, per diem and travel support, structured schedules, and extended time at home between assignments. The positions also provide a pathway to long-term careers in the energy sector.

In addition to outage work, the hiring event also served individuals with experience or transferable skills in manufacturing, energy and extraction industries, mechanical and electrical trades, and field service or industrial technician roles.

Overall, the event was designed to support job seekers at every stage, connecting them to immediate opportunities while also introducing them to ongoing resources through the EKY Talent Network. 

By engaging with the network, participants gained priority access to hiring events, direct connections to employers, personalized support, and continued access to job openings through the EKY Job Board.