Heffley addresses Palmerton chamber members

Job opportunities do exist, with a heightened emphasis in the technical fields.

That was one of several points touched upon by state Rep. Doyle Heffley during a luncheon with the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce at The Fire Escape on Tuesday.

Heffley said employers are looking to hire, and there are a lot of job opportunities right here in Carbon County.

“There certainly has been a shift in the workforce,” Heffley said. “We still have a strong work ethic. We just need more workers.”

Heffley said that with the baby boom generation retiring, employers are looking for technically skilled workers, such as welders, machinists, fabricators and HVAC, among others.

He said Mack Trucks in Lower Macungie Township was in the midst of hiring 400 workers.

“It’s a matter of connecting people with the jobs that are there,” Heffley said. “A lot of these jobs provide people with family sustaining wages with benefits.”

Heffley said that 52 percent of the people who live in Carbon County work or are employed or have businesses in the Lehigh Valley.

He also mentioned the opioid drug crisis and noted there’s been an uptick in overdose deaths.

“It’s not just all law enforcement, but a community effort,” he said. “It’s certainly our No. 1 health crisis.”

Heffley said he believes we need to connect with those people who are in treatment.

“We need more treatment locations and more programs in place to help people as they go through treatment to get them back into the workforce,” he said.

“We need the people that are dealing with addiction to get treatment so that they can get on with their lives and have a quality of life.”

Heffley added it’s important to educate the public so that they are informed on the dangers of opioids.