MILWAUKEE – Area employers are hosting a career fair today in Milwaukee, in an effort to recruit new workers to family supporting careers in the water sector.
“The water sector offers a wide variety of careers for every skillset, from entry level to those that require an advanced degree,” said Pat Pauly, Superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works. “Anyone looking for fresh start or a new career is encouraged to attend.”
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District, Milwaukee Water Works, Milwaukee Water Commons, Veolia Water Milwaukee, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are hosting the “One Water Career Fair” at Milwaukee’s DNR Headquarters, 1027 W. St. Paul Ave., from 3:00 to 6:00 PM
At least a dozen private sector employers will attend, including Badger Meter, J.F. Ahern, Michels, Gestra, Marek Landscaping, Ramboll, Stantec, and Xylem. Labor groups the Building and Construction Trades Council and the Laborers Union (LiUNA) will participate, as well as the Operations and Infrastructure divisions the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works.
Representatives from UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Science, the Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Marquette University will be available for those who want to learn more about securing degrees and certifications that will lead to careers in the water sector.
Job services agencies WRTP/BIG STEP, Employ Milwaukee, Community Advocates, Maximus, Cream City Conservation, Literacy Services, and Wisconsin Community Services will help job seekers with the resources they need to start a career in water. Attendees can get help with resume writing on site during the career fair from the Job Service of Wisconsin.
Milwaukee is well-established as a “water centric city” but the tight labor market is especially acute among public sector water industry employers where vacancy rates are as high as 25%. As federal funding begins to flow towards water infrastructure and water quality projects, the demand for workers in critical water industry jobs has never been higher.
The collaborative effort among water sector employers is part of an increasingly popular national philosophy known as One Water, which envisions managing all water – drinking water, wastewater, storm water, and grey water – in an integrated, inclusive, and sustainable manner.
A national One Water Summit will take pace in Milwaukee in early September.
