We are in a period of tremendous change in human history which represents unequalled opportunities for improved decision making at both organizational and individual levels. Forces influence the outcome of events every day in ways which affect not only local people, opportunity, and resources, but also the water and wastewater treatment industries. In these changing and uncertain times, practical workforce planning tools are more important than ever for supporting utility leadership for managing the development of a sustainable workforce. Understanding global trends is a tremendous opportunity for anticipating workforce development needs. The City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), like the rest of the wastewater industry, is obliged to contend with these trends. This manuscript presents how DWSD is positively responding to retirements and other attrition by developing a sustainable and flexible workforce utilizing practical planning tools.
WHY A SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE?The global supply of qualified workers is shrinking. In today's interconnected, shifting, and complex world, the need for a highly qualified workforce is nowhere more critical than for those organizations that serve the public and preserve the fabric of human society -water and wastewater treatment utilities. As a result, there is a greater need than ever for achieving a sustainable workforce with the help of practical planning tools.
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