Summary of Workforce Development Programs Led by Water Utilities

Willamette Partnership researched various workforce development programs led by water utilities throughout the country to see what type of solutions water utilities are implementing to address their workforce needs. Although a variety of program types exist and many have overlapping goals and methods, most programs can be generally categorized by the following common program types:

• Outreach, Awareness, and Education
• Youth Workforce and Internships
• Summer Labor
• Apprenticeships
• Internal Training, Mentorship, and Knowledge Transfer
• Procurement, Contracting, and Hiring
• Support Services

The typical purpose, structure, and key lessons learned from each program type are described below along with a prominent example of a water utility implementing such a program.

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