Workforce Development for Water Utilities

Khris Dodson of Syracuse University’s Environmental Finance Center discusses a wide range of workforce development issues for water utilities. Khris identifies the problems with utility workforce development and also delves into potential solutions. It’s a great and important episode. In this session, you’ll learn about:

• What the biggest job needs are for water utilities
• Strategies to develop the skilled trades
• Why our culture doesn’t value the skilled trades highly enough
• How to align skill sets and geographical barriers with workforce needs
• Why more attention needs to be paid to retention strategies
• Compensation issues
• How utility rates impact the workforce
• Keys to succession planning for the utility workforce
• What the anticipated impact of artificial intelligence, machine learning and the internet of things might be

Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:

• Khris’ LinkedIn page
• EFC Network website
• Syracuse EFC website
• TWV #039: Serving Water For People and Utility Employment Opportunities with Connecticut Water CEO Eric Thornburg
• TWV #036: Water Utility Acquisition Issues and Utility Industry Gender Issues with Utilities Inc. President Lisa Sparrow

Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!