Al's Morning Meeting

Water & Wastes Digest's first State of the Industry Report reveals a significant number of professionals nearing retirement age and an impending workforce shortage in the areas of drinking water, wastewater, storm water collection, drainage and solid waste.

According to the recent report, the average water/wastewater professional has been working in the industry for 22 years, with almost one-third (30%) of survey respondents working in the industry for 30 years or more. Additionally, 41.5% of respondents were between the ages of 50 and 59. 

"Although there are a number of university programs across the country that attract students to the environmental and technology field, the graduating talent pool is too small to fill the growing need for qualified employees," said Water & Wastes Digest Editorial Director Neda Simeonova. "This problem is even more severe in rural areas and remote locations where it is especially challenging to find, train and keep skilled employees."

This staffing shortage coincides with massive U.S. infrastructure challenges, including aging infrastructure, state and federal funding shortfalls, increasing complexity of water management regulations and growing demand in regions that lack proper infrastructure, according to Water & Wastes Digest contributor and American Water Enterprises President Mark Strauss.