The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has issued an urgent call for action to address a growing skills crisis across the UK water sector. Its new report, Your Future, warns that more than 43,700 new recruits will be needed by 2030 — a 36% increase — to replace retiring staff and deliver the £100 billion of investment planned for water infrastructure and flood defences under AMP8.
The report, based on CIWEM’s 2025 Member Career Survey and interviews with professionals across water companies, consultancies, and public bodies, reveals strong concern about workforce capacity. Sixty-nine percent of members agree there is “a lack of capacity to do all the work the industry has committed to.” Yet confidence remains high, with only 3% considering leaving the profession.
CIWEM President John Curtin said: “This is both a challenging and an exciting time in the water sector – there has never been a better time to make a real difference to our environment. But we’re at a tipping point. Either we invest in the skills we need now, or we fail to deliver on the investment the water sector desperately needs.”
The Your Future report calls for a coordinated, government-backed skills drive and sets out a seven-point action plan urging closer collaboration between industry, academia, and professional bodies. Priorities include developing digital and data science expertise, integrating nature-based solutions into training, and investing in “people skills” to strengthen multi-organisational collaboration.
CIWEM also highlights the need to attract and retain diverse talent, noting shortages across disciplines from hydrogeology to planning. With 55% of members saying recruitment must be broader and more inclusive, the report calls for a stronger narrative to inspire young people and career changers to join the water industry.
