The economic stimulus package engineered by Barack Obama could help refinery workers in Kern County, California, find their way back into employment.

Since the Big West refinery started cutting its operating capacity and reducing staff numbers, many have found it difficult to get back into work, local media outlet 17KGET.com reports.

However, with both houses of congress reaching an agreement on a revised $789 billion (£548.3 billion) recovery package, the wide-scale public works and infrastructural development programme may help to get people back into work in Kern County.

"We qualify for that money; we don't have to compete for it. We don't know how much money will trickle down to the county but we know there will be money for some projects," said county legislative analyst Allan Krauter.

The money could be used to help bankroll new training and development programmes to help workers expand their skill sets and make them more attractive to prospective employers in the oil and gas industry and other sectors.

Global Education and Training event for Oil and Gas: Refining and Petrochemicals