AWWA JAW68587

The workforce gap is real, and now is the time to act to ensure sufficient future staffing to meet service expectations. Many utilities are facing tremendous difficulty in recruiting and hiring qualified employees. They also may find it difficult to retain good employees whose knowledge and skills are in demand in this growing employee's market. Utilities have been using dated recruiting methods resulting from the recent era of lean operations and hiring freezes. Utility culture has not changed to meet the critical job factors sought by younger generations. This article provides solutions to workforce sustainability issues that utility managers can adopt and implement in their organizations with minimal financial investment. Employers must provide the same level of attention to workforce planning as they do to asset management and other strategic business priorities. Examples of successful application of workforce planning practices by specific utilities are shared to illustrate proven effectiveness and open the door for collaboration. Other resources to assist utilities are also given.