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Member Update (MU04-05)

Member Pipeline - Member Services & Information - Update (MU04-05)

To: Members & Affiliates
From: National Office
Date: April 1, 2004
Subject: NEW PUBLICATION RELEASE — THE CHANGING WORKFORCE… CRISIS & OPPORTUNITY AN AMSA/AMWA CHECKLIST
Reference: MU 04-05

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AMSA is delighted to provide members with a complimentary copy of the newly released publication, The Changing Workforce . . . Crisis & Opportunity, as a benefit of membership.

The Changing Workforce — A Hands-On Guide to a Utility Mega Trend
Developed as a collaborative effort between AMSA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), The Changing Workforce . . . Crisis & Opportunity publication focuses on the changing face of the public utility workforce, which has been identified as a mega-trend that will have a tremendous amount of impact on utility leaders in the coming years.

The Changing Workforce examines the opportunity, and the potential crisis, that this “mega-trend” poses to utility leaders as the demand for qualified, skilled employees is expected to rapidly increase, while the supply is expected to decline. As “Baby Boomers” retire, utilities will be challenged to develop a new generation of staff while retaining much-needed institutional knowledge. Utility-specific data from the clean and safe drinking water communities provided much of the framework for this publication, and the actions outlined in this document are sure to generate much discussion among utility leaders.

Checklist Examines Strategic Actions for Utility Leaders
The “Checklist for Action”, located inside the publication’s front cover, provides a practical guide for “what to do now” as well as strategic actions for utilities to consider in maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace. The top five most important strategic areas, as illustrated on the Checklist, for utilities to consider in preparation for the emerging workforce include:

  1. Knowledge Retention
  2. Learning Environment
  3. Management and Supervisory Development
  4. Management Team and Governance Board Alignment
  5. Effective Communication

The Checklist’s five action areas combined with a process of “assess, interpret, plan, implement and measure progress” will assist utility leaders in developing a plan of what to do in addressing the changing workforce.

The Changing Workforce publication also provides a bibliography section, which lists additional resources that address workforce issues — from fostering a learning environment and generational differences to creating a high performance environment and identifying what workers want from employers.

Additional copies of The Changing Workforce may be purchased using the enclosed order form or online at AMSA’s Bookstore, http://www.amsa-cleanwater.org/pubs/. Please contact Lisa Headley, AMSA’s Managing Director of Member and Internal Services, with any comments or questions on The Changing Workforce . . . Crisis and Opportunity publication, phone: 202/833-3692, e-mail: lheadley@amsa-cleanwater.org.