The UK water industry could soon face a significant loss of its workforce, with 70% of sector workers contemplating a move to other industries such as energy, according to a new report.
The "Water Industry Jobs Report 2024," compiled by specialist recruitment firm Murray McIntosh, surveyed nearly 4,000 professionals working in the UK water sector. The report analyses the current issues concerning the recruitment and retention of employees in the industry.
It highlights that over a quarter (26%) of engineers identify employment and skills shortages as the most pressing issue. Furthermore, 42% of respondents indicated that inadequate access to training hinders their ability to innovate in their roles.
Several factors are driving this potential exodus, the report suggests, including an aging workforce, talent drain to other sectors, and a limited influx of new workers. "The lack of new people entering the industry, combined with pre-existing skills shortages and the likelihood of increasing workloads as key infrastructure projects are implemented, should be a major concern for employers," the report states.
Additionally, the report builds on research from Watertrain, which found that workers under 24 comprise a mere 8% of the workforce in the UK water sector. Moreover, over 20% of the current skilled workforce is set to retire within the next decade.
Competition from other sectors exacerbates the situation. The report notes that many engineers are eyeing roles in the more lucrative oil, gas, and nuclear industries, which offer higher earning potential due to their significant income and profits.
Additionally, the water sector struggles with attracting new talent. The industry’s efforts to position itself as a viable long-term career option have largely fallen flat. Water is not perceived as the most glamorous and attractive industry in which to start a career, the report concedes.
Several factors are driving this potential exodus, the report suggests, including an aging workforce, talent drain to other sectors, and a limited influx of new workers
Infrastructure challenges further compound these issues. One in five professionals pointed to aging physical infrastructure as a critical concern. The necessity of managing 88,000 kilometers of pipe and supporting a rapidly growing urban population strains the existing system’s capacity.
To address these challenges, Murray McIntosh's report advocates for a more positive promotion of the sector's projects. It notes that 75% of engineers value project visibility when considering a new job, suggesting that highlighting innovative projects could improve recruitment and retention.
Engineers also expressed a desire for modernization within their roles, with 29% calling for the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and flexible work structures.
"Our findings make it clear that a solution to the talent challenges facing the water industry needs to be found," the report concludes. "The industry needs to consider its broader image and how it promotes itself not just to talent but to the wider world."
“Skilled labor shortages are widespread, with a particular shortage of experienced engineers, and there is a worrying pension gap on the horizon.
“It’s a broader issue, but the industry really needs to consider its broader image and how it promotes itself not just to talent but to the wider world.
“The water industry only makes headlines for all the wrong reasons, with large, innovative and noteworthy projects often going unnoticed due to a lack of strategic focus.
“If water wants to draw skills from other industries, it needs to think about how external engineers perceive it and do more to improve its image. We need to be proud of our industry and promote our projects in the same way as other markets do.”
