Another Water Imperative…A (New) Qualified Workforce

Water utilities are dealing with a number of priorities. With pending retirements, access to a qualified workforce is moving up on the list…procurement can make a difference.

By Jim Baehr

Escalating operational cost, access to capital, regulations, decaying infrastructure, cybersecurity, as well as ever-increasing customer expectations for safe and reliable drinking water are all very real challenges facing the water industry. Add an aging workforce and it’s understandable that utility leaders might be asking, “what’s next?” Could the “what’s next?” be the introduction of a more prominent role for procurement, augmented by new sourcing tools in the hands of emerging professionals to help address some of the workforce related matters? Maybe.

Utilities in general have a higher concentration of employees in what’s called the “retirement zone” – between the ages of 59 to 63. This could be attributable to low turnover in a culture that values career employment. Also, give credit to human resources for programs that place emphasis on employee retention. But, the reality of a mass departure of experienced employees from utilities is now taking on a sharp focus.