Image credit: C. Dettmann/MNSG.
Recommended for funding, pending NOAA approval.
Water doesn't just flow out of the tap by magic. It takes a dedicated water workforce operating behind the scenes to keep Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and drinking water safe. With nearly one-third of water operators eligible for retirement in the next decade, the state is at a crossroads. This project is mapping the current landscape and building a digital roadmap to connect the next generation of professionals to these vital careers in the Lake Superior watershed.
Project description
This project is a comprehensive effort to understand and forecast the labor needs for water-related careers in the Lake Superior watershed. Over the next 10 years, the project team will conduct a deep-dive labor market analysis that spans municipal utilities, Tribal natural resource departments, and the emerging intersection of water and energy.
The project team will use snowball sampling to interview at least 25 regional employers to identify the specific skills needed, from data-driven decision-making to cybersecurity, to ensure Minnesota's water systems remain resilient.
Project materials
Once the research project is complete, the team will launch two primary tools:
Lake Superior Coastal Communities Water Workforce Report: A detailed snapshot of job growth, salary data, and demographic trends across three priority clusters of municipal, tribal, and water energy careers.
Interactive Water Workforce Roadmap: An ArcGIS StoryMap designed for students and job seekers. This interactive tool will feature career stories from real professionals, cost analyses of different training pathways, and direct links to educational programs.
Why Sea Grant?
This project supports Minnesota Sea Grant's focus area on Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development through advancing education for coastal communities on emerging opportunities in careers that support Minnesota's water workforce.
Project team
Principal Investigator:
Seth K. Thompson
[email protected]
Programs Director
Freshwater Society
St. Paul, Minnesota
Co-Principal Investigator:
Michelle Stockness
[email protected]
Executive Director
Freshwater Society
St. Paul, Minnesota
Funding
This project has been recommended for funding, pending NOAA approval, through the 2026-2028 Minnesota Sea Grant Biennial RFP. This work is supported by the Minnesota Sea Grant College Program using federal and/or matching funds under award NA24OARX417C0033-T1-01 from the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Lead scientist(s)
Seth K. Thompson
[email protected]
Programs Director
Freshwater Society
St. Paul, Minnesota