The Water Resources Institute (WRI) and the Vermont Rural Water Association (VRWA) have been awarded a capacity partnership grant to implement targeted workforce development initiatives. The project intends to strengthen the capacity of rural communities in Vermont to maintain safe drinking water and wastewater systems. These systems are vital for public health, environmental protection, housing, and economic development. The project will tackle the ongoing workforce shortage in water-related occupations by attracting a younger and more diverse workforce through educational experiences and VRWA’s Apprenticeship Program, and by better understanding incentives for workers to enter the industry. 

Experienced operators are vital to water and wastewater systems as they respond to climate change, natural disasters like Vermont’s recent flooding, and emerging contaminants like PFAS. 

In Vermont and across the country, the water resources industry faces significant challenges in maintaining a skilled workforce. The workforce shortage is particularly acute in rural areas where workers are significantly older than the national median age. A 2018 report by the Brookings Institution found that nationally, 30-50% of employees are expected to retire within this decade. The water workforce is not only aging but also lacks diversity; currently, two-thirds of the national water workforce is white, and less than 15% is female. This demographic imbalance limits the sector’s potential to innovate and adapt to emerging challenges. 

Without strategic intervention, many rural systems will struggle to maintain the skilled workforce needed to operate and maintain their infrastructure, threatening public health, housing initiatives, and environmental integrity. 

To address these challenges, this project will leverage UVM’s academic resources and VRWA’s industry expertise to: (1) conduct a survey to better understand workforce challenges specific to Vermont and (2) create educational opportunities to attract a younger, more diverse workforce. 

The survey would be conducted by a UVM undergraduate student intern during the summer of 2025 as part of their Leahy Honors College thesis to collect data on the state’s current workforce demographics, needs, and barriers to engaging young professionals. While there have been national studies, little Vermont-specific data are available. This survey will help develop targeted solutions to bolster the water workforce in Vermont communities and aid VRWA in applying for workforce development grants by equipping the organization with Vermont specific data. 

The project will also create a set of curricular opportunities for UVM students that will expose undergraduates to water resources, rural development challenges, and professional pathways in the water sector. Among these opportunities, we aim to sponsor field trips for UVM students to visit water treatment facilities in the spring 2025 and fall 2025 semesters. With assistance from VRWA, offerings could include facility tours, field work, job shadows, and laboratory activities. WRI director and faculty member, Beverley Wemple, will also work with the UVM Provost’s office to propose and lead a UVM GO program focused on water in the Vermont landscape. UVM GO is a pre-orientation program targeting first-year students focused on global learning, developing intercultural knowledge and skills, and building community. An offering focused on rural water would introduce students to essential services provided by drinking water and wastewater professionals, and the intersection with public health and environmental resource management. The offering would give students hands-on learning experiences, providing an entry point into a rewarding and critical career. 

UVM and VRWA will obtain data pertaining to Vermont’s water industry in the following areas:

o Demographic information of the current workforce, including age, gender, race, and ethnicity 
o Skills and training needs of the workforce 
o Job satisfaction and work environment 
o Information on workforce trends 
o Technological advancements impacting the industry 
o Anticipated retirement rates and vacancies in the next 5 years 
o Retention of newly trained operators 
o Income, compensation, and benefits

Using data from the survey, UVM and VRWA will be able to develop targeted approaches to bolster Vermont’s water workforce. This will include educational programming to inform UVM students about career opportunities in the water resources industry. VRWA will also use this data to enhance supports offered to current workers, such as apprenticeship, mentorship, and career development opportunities.