What I Talk About When I Talk About the Water Industry

Here's what usually happens: at networking events, I'll mention I'm trying to solve the skills shortage in the water industry. And almost every time, someone will reply, "Oh, like Thames Water?"

Part of me gets it. The big utilities are the first thing that comes to mind. But it's also a little frustrating, because that limited view of water careers is so focused on the traditional stuff and misses the bigger picture.

The machine learning engineer using AI to predict floods hours in advance isn't at a big utility. Neither is the consultant helping major companies decide where to build their next factory based on water availability. Or the fintech entrepreneur building a mobile payment system for water in Africa.

These people are all part of the modern water workforce too.

The Language Matters

So when we say "the water industry," are we really describing the full picture? Other names like "water tech," "marine/ocean sector," or "blue economy" don't quite fit either. They risk missing the next generation of talent who might not realise their skills belong here. And with 70% of water engineers considering leaving the sector, we can't afford to keep the best talent invisible.

The water challenges aren't just technical. They're business challenges. We need product managers who understand user experience for water apps. Financial analysts who can model water risk. Marketing professionals who can make water conservation compelling.

This isn't just about semantics. Language shapes perception, and perception drives career decisions.

I don't have the perfect answer yet, but maybe we need different terms for different contexts. When talking to engineers, "water tech" works fine. For business professionals, "water resilience sector" might resonate better. For recent graduates, "climate solutions through water innovation."

Your Turn

So what should we call this vibrant, diverse field? How do we broaden the story of water careers to attract the talent we truly need?

I'm genuinely curious about your thoughts. Hit reply and let me know how you'd describe the modern water workforce.

Gems

Speaking of water careers, here are four water jobs currently live on Greensider that prove my point about the diverse water workforce:

1. Non-Executive Directors at Energy & Environment Awards, remote in the UK

2. Volunteer & Citizen Science Coordinator at Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT), West Sussex, UK

3. Employee Experience and Office Coordinator at Puraffinity, London, UK

4. Product Marketing Specialist (project-based) at UK Water Industry Research, remote in the UK

Discover more opportunities at our job board!