This blog is sponsored by the Environmental Finance Center at Wichita State University.
Across the country, water utilities are grappling with a significant workforce gap. As experienced operators retire and infrastructure challenges intensify, the need for skilled, mission‑driven water professionals has never been greater.
The Future Water Leaders Program, a K–12 educational initiative, is helping close that gap by introducing students to meaningful water careers long before graduation.
The Power of Early Career Exploration
High school is a pivotal stage for shaping career aspirations. Research shows that structured exploration—internships, job shadowing, and guided planning—boosts students’ confidence in their career decisions and strengthens long‑term goals.
Students who participated in exploration activities showed notable improvements in career self‑efficacy, helping them better understand their interests and future pathways, as shown in a recent International Journal of Adolescence and Youth intervention study.
The Awareness Gap: Students Have Skills, But Need Exposure
Many students have a natural aptitude for technical or environmental roles but lack awareness of the opportunities in the water sector. According to a 2025 report from YouScience,
National data shows strong student abilities in high‑demand fields such as:
• Advanced manufacturing
• Engineering
• Environmental science
Even though these skills are crucial to water careers, many remain unaware of water careers until much later in their life —if at all. Early exposure can help close this gap and strengthen the workforce pipeline.
How the Future Water Leaders Program Supports Educators and Utilities
The Educator’s Resource Hub of the Future Water Leaders program offers a one‑stop shop for:
• Curriculum
• Videos
• Classroom tools
• Career information
• Hands‑on activities
These resources empower K–12 educators and local utilities to engage students in meaningful, relevant ways.
Tools for Utilities in Recruiting Young Water Professionals
For utilities interested in bringing high school interns on board, the Resources for Utilities section of the Hub provides:
• Guidelines and best practices
• Interview questions
• Sample schedules
• Editable templates
• Video testimonials from interns, supervisors, and educators
These tools help spark productive conversations between utilities, counselors, and educators—and make it easier to launch or expand internship programs. Explore these resources and more through the Environmental Finance Center Network! We are happy to help get your internship program off to the right start!
References
Education and Employers. (2004). High school career exploration programs: Do they work? Phi Delta Kappan, 86(2), 135–138. https://www.educationandemployers.org/research/high-school-career-exploration-programs-do-they-work/
Jemini Gashi, L., Bërxulli, D., Konjufca, J., & Cakolli, L. (2023). Effectiveness of career guidance workshops on the career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and career goals of adolescents: An intervention study. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2023.2281421
YouScience. (2025). 2025 State of the Future U.S. Workforce Report. https://www.youscience.com/resources/press/national-report-from-youscience-analyzes-aptitudes-of-450000-students-highlights-lack-of-exposure-to-in-demand-fields-and-its-impact-on-workforce-potential/
YouScience. (2025, February 18). National report analyzes aptitudes of 450,000 students, highlights lack of exposure to in-demand fields and its impact on workforce potential [Press release]. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-report-from-youscience-analyzes-aptitudes-of-450-000-students-highlights-lack-of-exposure-to-in-demand-fields-and-its-impact-on-workforce-potential-302377611.html
