Strong markets lead to hiring blitz

Washington Group International, a Boise, Idaho-based, international engineering, construction, and management company, launched a national recruiting campaign to hire more than 1,000 engineers, other professionals, and support staff. From energy to facilities management, the company says it is experiencing unprecedented strength in its markets.

The campaign begins with an open house March 14 in Denver, and will be followed throughout the spring by similar events in Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; Frederick, Md.; and Houston. Washington Group will be hiring for domestic and international assignments in all engineering disciplines and in materials management, estimating, project controls, and construction.

&quotWe are seeing the strongest markets in our industry in at least 30 years,&quot says Stephen G. Hanks, Washington Group International president and CEO. In 2006, Washington Group’s reported backlog rose 15 percent to $5.6 billion. And when long-term government and mining contracts are included, it has more than $9.5 billion in contracted work to complete in a wide range of market sectors. During the last four years, the company’s net income has increased at a 39-percent compound annual growth rate, with 2006 net income up 50 percent compared with 2005 net income. Washington Group’s new work in 2006 totaled $4.2 billion, reflecting strength in power, oil and gas, industrial services, contract mining, and facilities management.

&quotBased on our robust new-work pipeline, we expect to bring in $4.8 billion to $5.2 billion of new work in 2007,&quot Hanks says. &quotOpportunities are particularly strong in our power, oil and gas, industrial, and mining segments.&quot

Information about Washington Group’s open houses and job openings is available at www.wgint.com/careers.