Thousands of Ukrainians Seek Employment in North Dakota Oil Fields to Assist Families Impacted by War

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Maksym Bunchukov’s memories of rockets exploding in Zaporizhzhia when the Ukrainian conflict started still haunt him.

“The experience was horrifying,” he remarked. He and his spouse sent their grown daughter to Lviv for protection and later joined her with their animals.

Now, roughly a year and a half since the onset of the war, Bunchukov is among thousands of Ukrainians in North Dakota, following a century-old tradition.

He is one of the 16 recent arrivals, participating in a test initiative through the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian campaign to hire refugees and migrants amid a labor shortage. As part of the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Bakken Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers initiative, 12 more Ukrainians are set to arrive by August 15.

Some individuals intend to relocate their families to North Dakota, while others plan to eventually return to Ukraine.

“I plan to bring my wife, daughter, cat, and dog here,” Bunchukov told The Big Big News shortly after arriving.

Brent Sanford, Project Manager and ex-lieutenant governor who witnessed the Bakken oil boom during his mayorship of Watford City from 2010 to 2016, stated that the Bakken program serves both humanitarian and employment purposes.

Initially, the oil boom attracted an “organic workforce” from western North Dakota, but the Great Recession soon drew thousands from other states and nations for lucrative positions, according to Sanford.

Advancements in horizontal drilling and fracking allowed for extracting oil from deep underground.

“People arrived from everywhere by every conceivable means for job opportunities,” said Council President Ron Ness. “Those who were struggling financially found a way to start anew in North Dakota.”

However, events like the 2015 downturn, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other shocks likely sent workers back to their home states, particularly to larger, warmer cities, Sanford observed. Workforce challenges have grown “extremely pronounced” in the past year, Ness noted.

Around 2,500 jobs are available in an oil field producing 1.1 million barrels daily, Ness estimated. Employers might not post for every job, but for multiple vacancies at once.

Uniting for Ukraine seemed well-suited for North Dakota due to common Ukrainian heritage, climate, and agrarian values, according to an immigration law firm.

The program’s backers, including business owners and employees, commit to assisting Ukrainians with employment, healthcare, education, and housing.

Approximately 160 Ukrainians have settled in North Dakota, primarily in Bismarck, under Uniting for Ukraine, State Refugee Coordinator Holly Triska-Dally said.

Recent applications from potential sponsors have increased significantly, likely from growing awareness and thriving Ukrainians supporting family.

The relatively small number of arrivals is significant for cities like Minot and Dickinson, where there’s a substantial chance workers’ families will contribute to the local economy and education, Triska-Dally noted.

Bunchukov and other new arrivals, with backgrounds in various fields including Alaska’s seafood industry, work for different companies like road contractor Baranko Bros. Inc. Many of these workers have Social Security numbers and English skills.

Dmytro Haiman, another Ukrainian worker, recounted his efforts to aid his hometown, Chernihiv, during the war and his aspiration to help rebuild his nation through work in water transportation.

The Bakken program targets 100 workers by the end of 2023 and 400 more within a year, including non-Ukrainians, with various job roles.

Starting wages are at $20 an hour with quick advancement opportunities. Workers have flexibility in the Uniting for Ukraine program, which provides temporary “humanitarian parole” with potential long-term prospects, subject to federal decisions.

Assisted by four translators, workers are accommodated in apartments and extended-stay hotels. Companies like the one run by Glenn Baranko, whose great-grandfather was from Ukraine, have been actively recruiting.

The Ukrainian Cultural Institute in Dickinson recently hosted a lunch for newcomers, serving traditional dishes and showcasing Ukrainian culture.

Ivan Sakivskyi, another worker, expressed eagerness for opportunities like driving heavy machinery and gaining new experiences.

Although he doesn’t intend to stay in the U.S. permanently, Sakivskyi mentioned his desire to come back for work after visiting his family in Ukraine, expressing, “My heart and my soul are in Ukraine. It’s my friends. It’s my family.”

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