New Data Reveals Texas Water Workforce Challenges


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
April 27, 2023                                                       

Media Contact: Haley Durbin
713-476-1172, hdurbin@mwcllc.com

                                                          

 

AUSTIN – Today Texas Water Foundation (TWF) is releasing a report prepared by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) detailing the results of a Texas water workforce survey.

The data shows that attracting and retaining a skilled workforce is a significant concern among other Texas water infrastructure challenges. More than 60 percent of respondents reported that they are currently experiencing workforce-related challenges, and 76 percent indicated hiring and retaining qualified employees as a medium to high risk to their organizations in the future.  

“As the Texas Legislature considers a historic investment in infrastructure to address water security, it is clear that workforce and capacity concerns are part of our larger water infrastructure challenge,” said Sarah Schlessinger, CEO of Texas Water Foundation.     

More than 270 individuals representing water utilities, local government, state agencies, energy production, nonprofits, and research organizations from all parts of Texas participated in the survey. Of those respondents, more than 70 percent were executives or managers.

“Water utilities across Texas are facing a shortage of qualified personnel to operate their systems,” said Jeremy Mazur, Senior Policy Advisor of Texas 2036. “The success of any state investment in water infrastructure ultimately hinges on the availability of qualified personnel to operate those systems.”

The workforce shortage is compounded by the challenge of retaining staff with non-competitive wages. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage of a water or wastewater treatment plant and systems operator in Texas is $41,240, falling significantly short of California’s $73,100 and well below the national average of $52,320.  

“From the state agencies that regulate, monitor, and fund water, to the small and large utilities that deliver water and treat your sewage, finding and retaining people with the qualifications to keep the systems running is crucial for the future of water security in Texas,” said Schlessinger.

Other significant challenges ranked by respondents include:          

  • 79% indicate extreme weather, such as heatwaves, freezing, storms, floods, and droughts, as a medium to high risk

  • 78% indicate aging infrastructure as a medium to high risk

  • 68% indicate financing for capital improvements as a medium to high risk  

A one-page summary of the report’s findings can be found here. This survey was made possible with funding from the Lyda Hill Philanthropies. For access to the raw survey data or questions regarding these findings, please contact Colin McDonald at colin@texaswater.org. 

For more information on Texas Water Foundation, visit www.texaswater.org.

 

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Sarah Schlessinger