initial!report!on!skills,!talents!and!employment...
TRANSCRIPT
Initial Report on Skills, Talents and Employment Opportunities: Texas’ Water and Water
Technology Cluster
October 2015
An initiative of the Texas Research & Technology Foundation 12500 Network Blvd, Suite 308
San Antonio, Texas 78249 Phone: (800) 708-0478
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Table of Contents
Letter from Executive Director ................................................................................................................... 3
Summary of 21st Century Water Technologist Skills and Talent Initiative .................................. 4
Cluster of Skills and Competencies: Core vs. Supportive Jobs .......................................................... 7
“Value Chain” Water & Water Technology Occupations / Industries ............................................ 9
Texas Water and Water Technology Employment Perspective .................................................... 10
Top Metropolitan Statistical Markets .................................................................................................... 11
Top Employers ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Top Occupations ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Top Job or Occupational Titles: Postings and Placements ............................................................. 14
Span of Educational and Experience Attainment .............................................................................. 15
Top Skills Described Within Job Postings and Placements ............................................................ 16
Job Counts Per Year ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Comparing Texas Regions in Water Technology ............................................................................... 18
Comparing Region ‘N’ .................................................................................................................................. 19
Comparing Texas Technology Clusters ................................................................................................. 20
Highlights of Engineering Occupations in Texas Water Technology .......................................... 22
How Engineering Relates to Water Technology: “The Obvious and Newly Discovered” Role and Relationship ........................................................................................................................................... 23
Types of Core and Supportive Engineering within the Water Technology Sector ................. 26 Next Steps and Take Aways from the Report……………………………………………………………………27
An initiative of the Texas Research & Technology Foundation 12500 Network Blvd, Suite 308
San Antonio, Texas 78249 Phone: (800) 708-0478
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October 2015
On behalf of our Chairman, Ed Archuleta, the executive and advisory committees of AccelerateH2O, we are pleased to share the following initial report on skills, talents, and occupations comprising the State’s undiscovered and under-‐‑recognized water and water technology cluster.
Over the past four years, starting with the drought’s statewide impact, and through the most recent Memorial Day floods, Texans have increasingly become aware that deficit and abundance of water will be a constant in the foreseeable future. And yet, farmers and ranchers have known this scenario for decades, while large cities and counties quickly discovered rationing and grey-‐‑water reuse.
No geography of the State is immune to the challenges that come with such diverse industries as oil and gas production, food and consumer manufacturing, aerospace and electronic assembly, and hundreds of other examples in which the supply of water is significant in day-‐‑to-‐‑day operations.
Increasingly the use of technology is changing the prospects for a sustainable source of water, and in turn impacting the required training, certification, skills and talent development, and overall workforce that is necessary for treating, delivering, conserving, and generating new sources of water.
We welcome your feedback and additional insight to improve upon this initial report, and your partnership in leveraging the data and information created for preparing these findings and recommendations.
Richard S. Seline Executive Director and Senior Advisor
[ Special thanks to our interns – Theresa Trevino (UTSA December 2015) and Marisol Hernandez (Incarnate Word, May 2016) -‐‑ for their efforts to collect, organize, and draft this Initial Report! ]
Summary of 21st Century Water Technologist Skills and Talent Initiative
Funded through the Texas Workforce Commission under a Wagner-‐Peyser federal grant, and in partnership with Alamo Colleges of Greater San Antonio, AccelerateH2O has conducted initial data collection, assessment, and general analysis of employment, occupation, and skills scenarios for the Water and Water Technology sector. Through this report, an initiative for promoting the importance of a 21st century water technologist skills and talent strategy begins based on facts, data, and market-‐driven intelligence.
Texas, second to California, has approximately 1.4 million employed directly and indirectly in water-‐related products, services, industries, and sub-‐sectors. Some 340,000 Texans are currently employed in operations, treatment, and distribution to serve the needs of both public and private sector water-‐related sectors.
This level of employment currently places “Water and Water Technology” in the top five of overall economic and workforce “clusters” in Texas – side by side with long-‐standing recognition of similar industry sectors such as information, bio-‐life sciences, aviation and defense, and electronics. Because of the fragmented nature of the water sector in the State – 18+ university centers of research, 4600+ utilities and authorities, 5000+ medium and large corporate campuses, thousands of ranches and farms – the typical approach to identifying the State’s economic drivers often overlooks water relative strength and numbers.
To appreciate the scale and magnitude of the employment, occupations, AND impacted industry sub-‐sectors, AccelerateH20 examined the approach taken by other states and nations, and prior assessments of Texas’ technology clusters. Our conclusions can be found throughout this initial report, including the following highlights:
• Using a conservative approach to examining direct and indirect employment, the reality is that Texas’ water sector is far-‐reaching and complex. For instance, occupations run the gamut from high-‐school graduates in operator certified positions to post-‐graduate PhDs and engineers with masters.
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• “Indirect” employment is considered as jobs and sectors that are dependent upon the consistent and ready flow of water for completing tasks and producing revenues. One might consider agriculture to be obviously linked to water for the growth and production of crops. Yet so are car washes, laundries, fishing, recreation and entertainment, and an array of companies and jobs across the State.
• The value-‐chains of sub-‐sectors – from agriculture to sewer and waste treatment – employ individuals that receive state certification through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), associate degrees from community and technical colleges, four-‐year and post-‐graduate degrees from state and private universities, continuing education and adult training through veteran programs, and a host of other providers including several of Texas’ water and industry associations.
• By collecting, organizing, and examining millions of records on all 254 counties and the 16 regional water planning districts (as defined by the Texas Water Development Board and the Legislature), AccelerateH2O has generated an “asset mapping” at a detailed level to describe the historical, current and projected future impact on every jurisdiction and community.
• In turn, AccelerateH2O has captured data on thousands of institutions, businesses and firms at a micro-‐level and thus begun to create ‘live mapping’ of academic, industry, utility, and related sub-‐sector localized clusters.
• In exploring company activities, AccelerateH2O has identified unique collaborations, immediate opportunities, and innovative partnerships that exist or could be formed to position Texas’ undervalued water technology potential. For instance, instrumentation, electronic, chemical, and advanced food and consumer goods manufacturing have adopted practices, developed products, and/or have dual-‐purpose solutions that are already making markets in the US and abroad.
• Finally, we have confirmed – and expanded upon-‐ the importance of engineering to water and water technology across Texas. Academic, industrial, and federal agency-‐related engineering programs and offices have significant resources in the State, but often are not recognized for their national and global capabilities that could be applied towards challenges and opportunities in their own backyards. We have highlighted a handful of very creative engineered solutions being deployed today that could have near-‐term positive affect on Texas’ water supply, reuse, and conservation in the future.
The following Initial Report on Skills, Talent, and Employment Opportunities begins a series of briefings, insights, and knowledge-‐sharing on Texas’ $9 billion, 1.4 million employed “water and water technology cluster.” We welcome the chance to collaborate with other organizations, institutions, and agencies in furthering the State as a global water technology hub, including partnering on the development of additional information to support economic and workforce growth.
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Our assessment of employment and occupation opportunities in Texas began with the selection process of NAICs (North American Industry Classification System), SOCs (Standard Occupation Codes), D&B Numbers (Dun and Bradstreet), and related geocoded data points by county and regional identifiers.
The adjacent chart is a small sample of the broad array of employment opportunities found in our assessment methodology, and began to decipher the complex nature of water and water technology skills, talent and necessary training required to be employed in such positions.
A Note on Our Methodology
This chart lists industries within the sewer and water water infrastructure value chain by NAICS.
AccelerateH2O has put together a list of significant water and water technology industries to compare and evaluate this specific sector throughout Texas.
To be sure, one difficulty of any methodology is the ability to under-‐ or over-‐count employment numbers. To limit such an affect on our assessment, we have attempted to “drill down” into the codes at levels that produce more clarity and specificity.
And we have sought to examine geographies where data can be produced to show more localized impact. However as often is the case, comparing apples can lead to several “varieties” and we recognize that additional work and collaboration with regional and community economic, workforce, industry, and association interests will always produce more precise outcomes.
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Cluster of Skills and Competencies: Core vs. Supportive Jobs
Over the past twenty years, US and Texas economic and workforce development interests have sought to capture and organize data into “clusters” – or so-‐called aggregations/agglomerations of concentrated employment, occupations, revenues, and exports. Within the water and water technology cluster, Accelerate H2O has organized water-‐related jobs into two main categories – core and supportive.
Core Jobs are defined as directly employed in the day-‐to-‐day operations, maintenance, and physical infrastructure of the public and private water sector.
Supportive Jobs are defined as the expertise, talent, skills, knowledge, and competencies enabling and ‘supportive’ of core jobs.
Within this water technology cluster, core and supportive jobs work interdependently to adequately manage the specific value chain in an industry’s operations.
For example, a mechanical engineer (supportive) will comprise the design, analysis, and usage of heat and mechanical power for the operation of machines and mechanical systems. Whereas, a mechanical technician (core) would be on-‐site and proactively involved in utilizing the mechanical engineer’s draft, analysis, estimated efficiencies, and overall report during the design process.
Therefore, AccelerateH2O proposes through this initial assessment that a “Cluster of Skills and Competencies” exist across regions, industries, sectors, and value-‐chains in Texas’ water and water technology sector.
Water&and&Water&Technology&Occupations:&Onet&and&SOCs
Code Occupation
Relevance&
Ranking
11<9212.02 Water&Resource&Specialist 1
17<2081.01 Water&&&Wastewater&Engineers 1
19<1031.01 Soli&and&Water&Conservationists 1
51<8031.00 Water&and&Wastewater&Treatment&Plant&and&System&Operators 1
47<2152.02 Plumbers 2
47<2152.01 Pipe&Fitters&and&Streamfitters 2
47<5021.00 Earth&Drillers,&Except&Oil&and&Gas 1
19<2043.00 Hydrologists 1
49<9092.00 Commercial&Divers 2
17<3025.00 Environmental&Engineer&Technicians 1
19<2041.00 Environmental&Scientists&and&Specialists,&Including&Health 1
19<4091.00 Environmental&Science&and&Protection&Technicians,&Including&Health 1
43<5041.00 Meter&Readers,&Utilities 1
51<8021.00 Stationary&Engineers&and&Boiler&Operators 2
19<1031.00 Conservation&Scientists 1
47<2152.00 Plumbers,&Pipefitters,&and&Steamfitters 2
13<1041.01 Environmental&Compliance&Inspectors 2
17<2081.00 Environmental&Engineers 1
51<9012.00
Separating,&Filtering,&Clarifying,&Precipitating,&and&Still&Machiness&
Setters,&Operators&and&Tenders 2
11<9121.00 Natural&Sciences&Managers 2
17<3026.00 Industrial&Engineering&Technicians 2
17<3029.09 Manufacturing&Production&Technicians 2
19<2031.00 Chemists 2
19<4031.00 Chemical&Technicians 2
19<4099.00 Life,&Physical,&and&Social&Science&Technicians,&All&Other 2
51<9061.00 Inspectors,&Tester,&Sorters,&Samplers,&and&Weighers 2
45<2092.01 Nursery&Workers 1
17<2021.00 Agricultural&Engineers 1
19<2042.00 Geoscientists,&Except&Hydrologists&and&Geographers 2
45<3011.00 Fishers&and&Related&Fishing&Workers 1
17<2141.00 Mechanical&Engineers 2
19<3011.01 Foresters 1
19<3011.01 Environmental&Economists 2
47<2011.00 Boilermakers 2
53<6011.00 Bridge&and&Lock&Tenders 2
51.6011.00 Laundry&and&Dry<Cleaning&Workers 2
51<8013.00 Power&Plant&Operators 2
37<3011.00 Landscaping&and&Groundskeeping&Workers 1
45<2093.00 Farmworkers,&Farm,&Ranch,&and&Aquacultural&Animals 1
19<4093.00 Forest&and&Conservation&Technicians 1
45<4011.00 Forest&and&Conservation&Workers 1
11<9199.11 Brownfield&Redeveloment&Specialists&and&Site&Manager 2
49<9099.01 Geothermal&Technicians 1
53<7031.00 Dredge&Operators 1
11.9041.00 Architectural&and&Engineering&Managers& 2
51<8099.03 Biomass&Plant&Technicians 2
19<1020.01 Biologists 2
19.0122.00 Microbiologists 2
51<8099.04 Hydroelectric&Plant&Technicians 1
19<2041.02 Environmental&Restoration&Planners 2
37<1012.00
First<Line&Supervisors&of&Landscaping,&Lawn&Service,&and&
Groundskeeping&Workers 1
45<2099.00 Agricultural&Workers,&All&Other 1
17<1022.00 Surveyors 2
51<8091.00 Chemical&Plant&and&System&Operators 2
51<8099.01 Biofuels&Processing&Technicians 2
53<7072.00 Pump&Operators,&Except&Wellhead&Pumpers 1
13<1199.01 Energy&Auditors 2
53<5031.00 Ship&Engineers 1
11<3051.06 Hydroelectric&Production&Managers 1
11<9041.01 Biofuels/Biodiesel&Technology&and&Product&Development&Managers 2
17<2151.00 Marine&Engineers 1
17<2151.00 Mining&and&Geological&Engineers,&including&Mining&Safety&Engineers 2
17<3029.06 Manufacturing&Engineering&Technologists 2
19<1012.00 Food&Scientists&and&Technologists 1
19<1013.00 Soil&and&Plant&Scientists& 1
19<2041.03 Industrial&Ecologists 2
19<2099.01 Remote&Sensing&Scientists&and&Technologists 2
19<4011.00 Agricultural&Technologists 1
19<4021.00 Biological&Technicians 2
19<4041.01 Geophysical&Data&Technicians 2
19<4099.03 Remote&Sensing&Technicians 2
29<2011.03 Histotechnologists&and&Histologic&Technicians 2
33<3031.00 Fish&and&Game&Wardens 1
45<1011.06 First<Line&Supervisors&of&Aquacultural&Workers 1
47<2071.00 Paving,&Surfacing,&and&Tampging&Equipment&Operators 2
47<4071.00 Septic&Tank&Servicers&and&Sewer&Pipe&Cleaners 1
47<5011.00 Derrick&Operators,&Oil&and&Gas 1
47<5013.00 Service&Unit&Operators,&Oil,&Gas&and&Mining 1
51<6051.00 Sewers,&Hand
51<8011.00 Nuclear&Power&Reactor&Operators 2
51<9192.00
Cleaning,&Washing,&and&Metal&Pickling&Equipment&Operators&and&
Tenders 1
17<1022.01 Geodetic&Surveyors 2
17<3022.00 Civil&Engineering&Technicians 2
17<3031.00 Surveying&Technicians 2
17<2121.02 Marine&Architects 1
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The start of our assessment included identifying a broad range of industries within the water and water technology sector – including sub-‐sectors that represented both public and private interests across residential, industrial, agricultural, and utilities-‐agencies in Texas. By applying traditional “cluster modeling” as developed by Michael Porter (Harvard University) and the US Council on Competitiveness, AccelerateH2O generated a historical, current, and projected ‘landscape’ of employment, impact, and concentration of jobs, wages, and overall earnings.
We examined sub-‐sectors including construction, manufacturing, operations, and wholesale distribution of water products and services. This short-‐list provided information on Texas’ unrecognized and unique market, including growing and declining industries that forecast the future of the State’s technology capacity.
Using several analytical tools that allow forecasting for growth, we determined that a number of relationships could be identified between sectors (energy-‐water, food-‐water for example), by exploring the industries supplying multiple interests. The obvious links between oil and gas production with water use include the manufacturing of tanks, pipes, pumps, generators, and other equipment used in the process of conventional and unconventional production.
Finally, we applied the standard use of “locational quotient” analysis that measures concentrations at local, state, and national levels to determine if a sector is more robust within Texas as compared to other locations and states.
For instance, Hydroelectric Power Generation, though in significant decline, has a concentration in Texas at six times the national level, and earnings among those employed in the sub-‐sector are unusually high. Our concentration of Water Supply and Irrigation Systems is nearly two times the national level with an annual wage rate
$46,000 -‐ $61,000.
All this information leads to a simple assumption: to date, water and water technology have not been considered economic drivers along with other sectors of our industrial base – and once examined under this approach – suggest that state, regional, and local economic, workforce, chamber of commerce, industry association, and private sector interests should adopt this “new” cluster into their strategies.
NAICS&Code Description
221111 Hydroelectric&Power&Generation237110 Water&and&Sewer&Line&and&Related&Structures&Construction326122 Plastics&Pipe&and&Pipe&Fitting&Manufacturing333319 Other&Commercial&and&Service&Industry&Machinery&Manufacturing423850 Service&Establishment&Equipment&and&Supplies&Merchant&Wholesalers333911 Pump&and&Pumping&Equipment&Manufacturing325181 Alkalies&and&Chlorine&Manufacturing333291 Paper&Industry&Machinery&Manufacturing325613 Surface&Active&Agent&Manufacturing333913 Measuring&and&Dispensing&Pump&Manufacturing333611 Turbine&and&Turbine&Generator&Set&Units&Manufacturing221310 Water&Supply&and&Irrigation&Systems332420 Metal&Tank&(Heavy&Gauge)&Manufacturing423830 Industrial&Machinery&and&Equipment&Merchant&Wholesalers
%"Change
2005"National"Location"Quotient
2018"National"Location"Quotient
2014"Wages,"Salaries,"&"Proprietor"Earnings
2014"Supplements
2014"Earnings
"(100%) 6.03 0.61 $152,854 $48,236 $201,090"(5%) 1.58 1.74 $52,238 $9,026 $61,264"(14%) 2.32 1.93 $62,612 $13,898 $76,510"(30%) 0.35 0.23 $59,213 $10,740 $69,953"(4%) 1.00 1.02 $52,079 $7,249 $59,328"(6%) 1.10 0.84 $69,575 $12,619 $82,194"(3%) 1.81 1.40 $107,528 $30,750 $138,278449% 0.05 0.31 $52,061 $9,442 $61,5031469% 0.04 0.53 $128,167 $36,652 $164,819165% 1.00 2.13 $58,398 $10,592 $68,990106% 0.48 0.52 $81,149 $14,718 $95,86724% 1.83 1.49 $46,518 $14,680 $61,198130% 1.66 2.06 $53,924 $9,935 $63,85961% 1.70 2.22 $77,215 $10,748 $87,963
2010$Jobs
2011$Jobs
2012$Jobs
2013$Jobs
2014$Jobs
2015$Jobs
2016$Jobs
2017$Jobs
2018$Jobs
Change %$Change
774 915 854 949 879 569 339 172 61 $(18,929) $(100%)21,132 21,069 21,694 22,550 21,003 21,164 21,302 21,424 21,535 $(1,098) $(5%)3,845 3,990 4,246 4,212 4,548 4,567 4,599 4,640 4,687 $(773) $(14%)1,099 1,107 1,054 1,027 996 973 959 952 950 $(413) $(30%)4,459 4,539 4,546 4,618 4,657 4,612 4,575 4,543 4,515 $(169) $(4%)1,648 1,853 2,024 2,052 2,041 2,070 2,097 2,121 2,143 $(130) $(6%)1,097 996 1,008 1,050 1,020 1,018 1,018 1,021 1,025 $(37) $(3%)
95 108 125 145 160 176 190 202 214 175 449%113 124 131 150 168 180 190 198 204 191 1469%275 348 370 405 437 471 500 524 545 339 165%
1,076 1,085 1,181 1,225 1,199 1,270 1,328 1,377 1,419 731 106%5,292 5,526 5,604 5,485 5,103 5,313 5,494 5,654 5,799 1,104 24%3,867 4,530 5,561 5,870 5,938 6,330 6,643 6,901 7,118 4,020 130%41,443 45,582 50,094 52,570 55,037 56,972 58,545 59,864 60,995 23,159 61%
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“Value Chain” Water & Water Technology Occupations / Industries
The adjacent graphic represents a good example of how the water and water technology core and supportive occupations, jobs, and industries connect along an “industry value chain.” As visualized, the graph indicates the typical amount of education required to hold certain job positions.
The value chain is aligned along stages of product development. The first process is the “Design” stage, which is comprised of the “supportive” workforce because of the expertise and skills required to complete these jobs. The diagram indicates that at least an associate’s degree is required for each job in the “Design” stage.
The next stages – “Materials & Components, Construction & Installation, Maintenance & Operations” -‐ are considered the “core” workforce because of the day-‐to-‐day functions of supplying, reusing, generating, and otherwise delivering water through various techniques and infrastructure. The interdependency between core and supportive “work” is often complimentary, overlapping to the completion of tasks. Many of these occupations do not require more than a high school diploma or equivalent, and yet are dependent upon individuals with certifications, degrees and further education.
10
Texas Water and Water Technology Employment Perspective
Accelerate H2O has put together several graphs that represent a one-‐month snapshot of job postings that reflect vacant occupations with employers and skills sought for the current demand of ‘core and supportive’ jobs available in the water and water technology industry.
In conducting this initial assessment, we examined several perspectives of the industries, occupations, and locational demand among various employers, units of government, and prospective expertise and skills required to meet such demand. The following charts represent:
1. Top Metropolitan Statistical Areas 2. Top Employers 3. Top Occupations 4. Top Job or Occupational Titles: Postings and Placements 5. Education and Experience Attainment 6. Top Skills Described Within Job Postings and Placements 7. Job Counts per Year
In reviewing this data, and recognizing that each graphic is a snapshot in time, AccelerateH2O has determined that future demand of water technology coincides with immediate demand for aligning skills, talent, certification, curricula, and educational awareness among state agencies (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Workforce Commission, even the Texas Water Development Board) with water and industry associations, training providers, and the entire education system (high school, community and technical college, four year and post graduate universities).
For example, the ratio of current postings to job placement is 1:1; yet expected retirement and technology advancements requiring additional certification or training forecast a significant gap for Texas’ water and water technology cluster.
If Texas is to compete on a global level for attracting, recruiting, investing, and growing water technology firms, manufacturers, and operations, anticipating and delivering requisite skills and talent MUST occur in parallel.
11
Top Metropolitan Statistical Markets
This chart demonstrates a sample one-‐month job posting and hiring in certain Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Texas for several water-‐centric positions. The Houston-‐Sugar Land-‐Baytown area has the largest MSA job postings of 1,379 in the water sector, followed by Dallas with 615, and San Antonio with 543.
1,379
615
543
200
90
81
60
59
52
39
31
21
19
17
17
16
16
14
13
11
10
10
7
7
5
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600
Houston2Sugar7 Land2Baytown,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Dallas2Fort7Worth2Arlington,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
San7Antonio2New7 Braunfels,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Austin2Round7 Rock2San7Marcos,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Brownsville2Harlingen,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Beaumont2Port7 Arthur,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Killeen2Temple2Fort7 Hood,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Corpus7 Christi,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
El7Paso,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Laredo,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Midland,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
College7Station2Bryan,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Waco,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Longview,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Tyler,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Lubbock,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Odessa,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
McAllen2Edinburg2Mission,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Amarillo,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Victoria,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
San7Angelo,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Abilene,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Texarkana,7TX2Texarkana,7AR7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Sherman2Denison,7 TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7 Area)
Wichita7Falls,7TX7(Metropolitan7 Statistical7Area)
Top7MSAs
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Top Employers: Example of Companies Within the Texas Cluster
This graph demonstrates another one-‐month snapshot of job postings with the most relevant employers. In AH2O’s data collection of occupations and industries, it has been identified that a broad range of public and private employers are seeking employees. At this snapshot in time, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) released the most job postings in the water and water technology sector.
The table within the chart displays a sample of current water-‐related job postings from August 2015. As seen, the majority of the positions are for engineers as well as other technician and operator jobs, which typically require four-‐year degrees, experience and/or on-‐the-‐job training. Of note in reviewing this chart and similar data found throughout our assessment is the inclusion of industries, businesses, and sub-‐sectors that may raise credibility questions for their inclusion. Carnival Cruise Lines for instance. Consider it not just a tourism and travel company, but how reliant upon water for both obvious and non-‐obvious reasons. The reader will see that we have included carwashes, laundries, and other consumer-‐related services that – in the absence of water – would not be in operations. And yet, cruise line, carwashes, and laundries also represent opportunities to apply water recycling, reuse, conservation technologies.
13
Top Occupations Among Water Cluster Firms, Organizations & Operations
This graph represents a one-‐month snapshot of specific job occupations sought by an array of sectors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Ongoing Education and Training (ONET) database, twelve of these occupations require at least a bachelor’s degree including engineers, managers, accountants, technical and scientific products representatives, human resource specialists, and software developers. Some managers (all other) only require an associate’s degree.
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers do not require a high school diploma, but increasingly have grown to encourage a postsecondary certification, experience, or an associate’s degree. The remaining occupations require at least a high school diploma and training and/or experience to perform the primary duties in the position.
335
152
125
111
105
100
81
75
64
60
57
53
52
51
50
46
45
41
39
36
34
34
33
31
30
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Sales0Representatives,0Wholesale0and0Manufacturing,0 Except0Technical0and0Scientific0 Products
Water0and0Wastewater0Treatment0 Plant0and0System0Operators
Sales0Managers
Maintenance0and0Repair0Workers,0General
Civil0Engineers
Telecommunications0 Equipment0 Installers0and0Repairers,0 Except0Line0Installers
Production0 Workers,0All0Other
Software0Developers,0Applications
Chemical0Engineers
Water/Wastewater0Engineers
Human0Resources0Specialists
Architectural0 and0Engineering0Managers
General0and0Operations0Managers
Mechanical0Engineers
Sales0Representatives,0Wholesale0and0Manufacturing,0 Technical0and0Scientific0Products
Managers,0All0Other
Electrical0 Engineers
Plant0and0System0Operators,0All0Other
Accountants
Laborers0 and0Freight,0 Stock,0and0Material0Movers,0Hand
Customer0 Service0Representatives
Separating,0Filtering,0 Clarifying,0 Precipitating,0 and0Still0Machine0Setters,0Operators,0 and0Tenders
Installation,0 Maintenance,0 and0Repair0Workers,0All0Other
Registered0 Nurses
Actors
Top0Occupations
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Top Job or Occupational Titles: Postings and Placements
The top titles on this graph were used to search for water and water technology employees. Some positions requiring vocational school, on-‐the-‐job training, or an associate’s degree include field service technician, registered nurse, maintenance technician, water treatment plant operator, and outside sales.
Engineering managers are typically required to have a master’s degree. For the remaining titles, most are obtained with a bachelor’s degree.
79
77
63
61
40
29
28
27
27
26
26
26
25
24
23
22
22
20
20
20
19
19
18
18
18
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Field0Service0Technician
Sales0Representative
Account0Manager
Water0Treatment0Specialist
Process0Engineer
Sales0Engineer
Chemist
Regional0Sales0Manager
Registered0 Nurse
Applications0 Engineer
Carnival0Cruise0 Lines0Playlist0Productions0 *Vanco
Carnival0Cruise0 Lines0L Dancer0&0Singer0Auditions
Sales0Manager
Engineering0Manager
Civil0Engineer
Chemical0Engineer
Account0 Representative
Accountant
Service0Technician
Mechanical0Engineer
Maintenance0Technician
District0 Representative0 III
Systems0Engineer
Water0Treatment0Plant0Operator
Outside0Sales
Top0Titles
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Span of Educational and Experience Attainment
The majority of occupations withing the water and water technology sector require at least a bachelor’s degree, followed by occupations requiring only high school or vocational training.
Approximately 1,100 positions require a bachelor’s degree, from which a little over 1,000 require at least two years of experience. Typical occupations in this category include engineering and natural sciences managers. This field typically makes up the ‘supportive’ workforce, as previously discussed.
Roughly 590 positions require at least a high school diploma or vocational training. These positions typically make up occupations such as meter readers, water and wastewater treatment operators that require on-‐the-‐job training or vocational school. These occupations contribute to the ‘core’ workforce, which mainly involve maintenance and day-‐to-‐day operations.
Overall, it can be concluded that the majority of employers in the water and water technology sector seek employees with bachelor’s degrees and high school/vocational training along with some experience.
With more and more occupations reliant upon technical and applied understanding, and the application of information, electronic, material, and chemical, future education attainment and experience will require new ways of integrating learning and certification with real-‐time, on-‐site, on-‐the-‐job apprenticeships and other forms of skills development. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) courses allied with water scenarios such as desalination and reuse will see increase demand at the high school and community college levels. One challenge for any sector, and especially in the water industry, is the ability to capture the value, historical know-‐how, and the almost artisan-‐like capabilities that will be most with the 30,000 retirements underway across urban and rural systems.
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Graduate.or.professional. degree
Bachelor's. degree
Associate's.degree
High.school.or.vocational. training
Education.and.Experience
8+.years.of.experience
5.to.8.years.of.experience
2.to.5.years.of.experience
Less.than.2.years.of.experience
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Top Skills Described Within Cluster Job Postings and Placements
AH2O has put together this chart describing sought-‐after skills in the water and water technology industry.
Many of these skills are more easily obtainable, for example, in repair, technical support, and water treatment operations. Typically, these skills require vocational school, on-‐the-‐job training, or experience in the water sector, thus making up the core jobs in the water market.
Other skills require extensive education such as chemistry, technical sales, business development, engineering, biology, and accounting, thus making up the supportive job demand for associate, four-‐year, and graduate education
Nevertheless, treatment and handling account for some of the top skills sought after in the water-‐related industry. Yet, as can be found in either sector, these treatment skills already require technical training in IT, electronics, sensors, basic chemistry and similar requirements. The future of water technology will require significantly more training, cross functionality, and specilization to keep up with new products and services.
1,175
576
303
288
271
247
229
223
191
190
187
183
181
178
169
157
156
155
146
146
141
133
114
112
110
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400
Water1Treatment
Repair
Chemistry
Inspection
Sales
Technical1Support
Business1Development
Chemical1Engineering
Spreadsheets
Wastewater1Collection
Decision1Making
Physical1Demand
Water1Distribution
Civil1Engineering
Wastewater1Treatment
Cooling1 Towers
Scheduling
Mechanical1Engineering
Boilers
Word1Processing
Biology
Plumbing
Hand1Tools
Procurement
Accounting
Top1Skills
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Job Counts Per Year: Example Within the Cluster’s Sectors
On a year-‐to-‐year basis, water and water technology job counts are less than 1% of all Texas positions. The chart represents job counts have continued to decrease by .01% every year since 2013. Therefore, a gap is emerging that must be filled by individuals not currently considering these types of positions, or frankly automation could fill the void in place of human resources!
The adjacent snapshot indicates a 1:1 ratio whereby training, skill development, and certification are keeping up with demand, but is precariously on a thin line without some additional “supply” strategies. As 34,000 retirements are expected over the next five to seven years, or 10% of the 340,000 people in the water workforce, AH2O believes that this ratio will dramatically change and now is the time to address future imbalances through a statewide engagement with youth and students.
There are several perspectives on the looming retirement and employment gap: First, operational optimization improves work-‐flows and therefore job functions are absorbed by one person doing the work of three; Second, the public water systems shift more work to supportive occupations and capabilities – including outsourcing, and focus only on a limited set of core functions. Or third, innovation and technology excite youth and students to consider the water sector as ‘cool’ enough to value the career potential
0.04%
0.05%
0.06%
0.06%
0.06%
0.06%
0.06%
0.00% 0.01% 0.02% 0.03% 0.04% 0.05% 0.06% 0.07%
Year/To/Date
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2007
Job/Counts/By/Year
280,000290,000300,000310,000320,000330,000340,000
2015 2019 2022
Retirement Effects in the Water Industry
Employment
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Comparing Texas Regions in Water Technology and Cluster Development
AH2O has gathered employment information in the water-‐related sector across 76 industries and sub-‐sectors. From this, AH2O has devised a map of water-‐related employment concentrations throughout Texas. Our initial skills assessment section discusses employment variations over the years.
The total number of water-‐related jobs in Texas for the year 2005 was 865,558. This statistic for the year 2015 is 1,030,929 jobs. There was a 19% job increase from 2005 to 2015. The total amount of forecasted jobs for 2025 are 1,168,320 jobs, which constitutes a 35% job availability jump from the years 2015 to 2025.
As indicated, job concentrations increase overall throughout the state, with the highest concentrations remaining in Harris, Dallas, and Travis County, respectively.
“In response to the drought of 1950 and in recognition of the need to plan for the future, the legislature created the Texas Water and Development Board (TWDB) to develop water supplies and prepare plans to meet the state’s future water needs.”
To help fulfill this objective, Texas has been divided into 16 water-‐planning regions as noted in the adjacent map. AccelerateH2O has gathered and begun to assess information from the Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) database within these regions and has already determined the uniqueness of water use and demand, and sector implications for near-‐term employment, occupation, and skills development.
Across these 16 regions are 28 workforce investment boards, councils of government, economic development and chamber organizations, school districts, and similar partners for addressing both the aforementioned retirement gap AND new opportunities vis-‐à-‐vis innovation and technology.
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Comparing Region ‘N’ – Sample of Economic, Occupational Impact
CORE SUPPORTIVE
From the 16 regions on the TWDB water-‐planning map, AH2O has randomly chosen Region ‘N’ to evaluate the water sector in this region. There are a variety of jobs in the water and water technology sector split into their respective core and supportive-‐level jobs. This data is cross-‐referenced with the Standard Occupational Code (SOC) for each specified field. Region ‘N’ Counties include: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, San Patricio
The following information shows averages for each respective field:
Core
• Percentage Change in Jobs from 2005-‐2025: 46% • Annual Salary: $43,888 • Location Quotient (2010, 2015, 2025): 1.84, 2.06, 2.13, respectively
Supportive
• Percentage Change in Jobs from 2005-‐2025: 41% • Annual Salary: $62,629 • Location Quotient (2010, 2015, 2025): 1.43, 1.51, 1.55, respectively
Core Supportive
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Comparing Texas Technology Clusters: Water and Water Technology Rise
Accelerate H2O has formulated a graph to compare the 340,000 Texans working in the water industry of both public and private water-‐related sectors to other top industries in the state. In this graph, the information technology (IT) industry in Texas is second in place with 203,730 workers, followed by the renewable energy-‐related industry with 102,634 employees.
As seen in the adjacent chart, employment in the Texas automotive industry ranked
number seven in the U.S., with General Motors the top employer with over 4,500 employees. This next part shows snapshots of other key industries in Texas.
To compare the diversity of different clusters within Texas, AH2O has included an example of the Texas Biotech cluster. The industry is comprised of 92,022 employees. The largest sector with 39%, medical and testing labs (NAICS 6215 and 54138), 22% in scientific research and development (R&D-‐NAICS 541711 and 541712), 17% in devices and equipment manufacturing (NAICS 334510, 334516, and 3319), and 11% in agricultural and other basic organic chemical manufacturing (NAICS 32519 and 3253), and 11% in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing.
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The Texas IT industry is heavily concentrated in Austin and Dallas Fort Worth. According to the Texas Wide Open for Business 2015 IT Services Industry Report, The University of Texas at Austin has an expenditure of $81.6 million for research and development (R&D). Thus, Austin remains a highly prospected city for IT. However, San Antonio – and its emphasis on defense and military facilities – has become one of the Nation’s leading cyber security R&D, application, and integration locations. With IT – and now cyber security – in three major cities and across several university campuses – the alignment with data analytics, imaging, sensors, and monitoring of water-‐related information should be of particular interest to economic and workforce development organizations.
Employment in the renewable energy industry in Texas is ranked second to California within the US. This is similar to the water technology and IT industry, which also rank justafter California. This large disparity between the two sectors could be due to population differences. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Texas population is about 30 million and the population of California is about 39 million. Clusters of economic, competency, industry, skills and talent – driven by the application of water technology – are plentiful once assessed at a deeper and more robust level. As has been the case for information technology, biosciences, and advanced manufacturing, water does play a vital role in other cluster competitiveness. However, water -‐ like electricity – “flows” through and among these sectors as a necessary and substantial ingredient for in its absence employment and growth cannot be sustained.
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Highlights of Engineering Occupations in Texas’ Water Technology Cluster
Texas’ engineering interests – corporate, industrial, public sector, and academic – have long understood the renewable resource that is readily abundant and accessible: Water. NASA and the United States Geological Survey – both with significant presence in Texas, note that water covers about 75% of the Earth’s surface. However, most of the water resources have not been ‘perforated’ – or simply – have not been tapped, reused, conserved, or otherwise harnessed. Makai Engineering states, “There’s a huge amount of energy stored in the ocean’s surface.” Other phrases such as “steel in water”, which is used to define the many water technologies that are yet to be discovered, are defining the connection between water, its underlying affect, and its potential. With these influencing interests – across public and private sector engineering thinking -‐ are encouraging the advantages of this conglomerate resource and implementing new water technologies. Engineers are being pulled from all areas of disciplines and crosscutting fields of study, research, and expertise. Engineering is increasingly so diverse that most fields can and should be applied to resolve Texas’ greatest challenges in water, technology, and ‘connected infrastructure’. The need for engineers in water technology advances and the corresponding jobs in surrounding and affiliated sectors, settings, and environments is the reason for highlighting occupations and industries as AccelerateH2O forecasts the near-‐term and future demand for skills and talent development to address innovating water.
The chart to the left demonstrates where and how all water on Earth is allocated. Texas represents a unique location for which sea, bay, groundwater, rivers, atmospheric sources of water contribute to a portfolio of technological options, and to the requirement for engineering collaboration.
Summary of Highlights: • Five water technologies to invest in now and engineering jobs that correspond to those new
technologies will generate a broad spectrum of opportunities across Texas • Engineering jobs will continue to expand with the integration of applications and technical needs
by all of Texas’ industries and sectors • Evidence through journal entries, current press releases, and finding in relations to water
technology produce ‘case studies’ on unique and innovative ‘engineered’ products, services, solutions
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How Engineering Relates to Water Technology: “The Obvious and Newly Discovered” Relationships Engineers are the link to incorporating these water technologies into existing and future infrastructure, commercial and public utility settings, and the overall environment for innovation. It can be derived that the job market for engineers will grow with the fast growing industry of water technology. Engineers from various fields will design, build, or maintain engine, machine, or public works. Successful water technology revenues heavily rely these engineers Water is a conglomerate resource. The population has been concerned more everyday with green resources and ways to achieve healthy ways of living in relation to water. The world has contributed huge amounts of time and money to ensuring that everyone has clean and healthy drinking water. However, there are a surplus of water to nourish other life such as crops and animals, eco-‐friendly materials, full use of water to support for transportation, new technologies such as the technology used in turbines to generate electricity, carrying out the manufacturing of the parts needed and utilize in new designs or as working parts of machines, using seawater for air conditioning and much more. Supportive Engineering Enterprises that have been Successful in Water Technology There has been much excitement with newly discovered water technology enterprises and breakthrough water technology. Most of these enterprises required engineers from a multitude of engineering fields. These few examples of supportive and current articles, press releases and journal entries are evident of:
• Engineers are the working ants of the infrastructure to water technology. • The importance and need for all core and supportive jobs for engineers through the conglomerate uses of water technology
• Examples of “breakthrough”water technologies being discovered and implemented.
Case Study: New Tech Taps Biggest Natural Battery -‐ the Ocean A team of engineers at an engineering company name, Makai Ocean Engineering, successfully “harnessed the stored energy of the ocean using the temperature difference between warm surface and cold deep water to produce electricity.” This green technology is called ocean thermal energy conversion or (OTEC). Currently the plant is small and is able to only supply 105 kilowatts to power about 120 homes. According to Duke Hartman, who is the Vice President of the engineering company, he is optimistic about the future growth of this new green water technology. He is relying on the 70 percent of water that covers the Earth’s surface. His outlook of Earth’s oceans is as the “world’s largest battery.” He states, “There’s a huge amount of energy stored in the ocean’s surface.”
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How does the new water technology work? The cold water that is used to cool down the ammonia to turn it back into liquid is distracted from an ocean depth of 3,000 feet. This cycle is repeated. “The temperature difference in the water needs to be at least 20 degrees C (36 degrees F).” Texas has the ability to take advantage and be a growing branch of this water technology. Both on-‐shore and off-‐shore of the Gulf of Mexico are the needed properties of the “thermodynamics of heat exchange using the difference in cold and warm water.”
Case Study: Filtering Water with Acoustics Nanotube Technology
Innovators at NASA’s Johnson Space Center have developed a filtration device to eliminate contaminants from water supplies. Originally developed to purify wastewater for reuse aboard the International Space Station, the innovation is applicable to numerous situations on Earth where there is a need to collect potable, medical-‐grade water from a contaminated water supply. The unique aspect of the technology is its use of acoustics rather than pressure to drive water through small-‐diameter carbon nanotubes. The invention requires less power than conventional
filtration systems and is well suited to a variety of water processing needs. Benefits: Produces clean water by eliminating contaminants. Efficient: Requires less power than conventional filtration systems, enabling
remote operation and solar power options. Flexible: Not dependent on gravity for water to flow through the system. Scalable: Allows for use of a single filter or a large bank of integrated filters,
depending on filtration needs. Widely Applicable: Suits applications for a variety of water processing needs,
ranging from industrial to consumer applications Please see the ‘Appendices’ for further information.
Applications •Municipal water facilities
•Medical facilities •Laboratories Distilleries •Desalination plants •Industrial facilities •Wastewater treatment facilities
•Consumer markets
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Case Study: Electro Scan unveils leak detection technology for water utilities
US-‐based technology firm Electro Scan has developed a new multi-‐sensor probe. This probe can be used by water utilities to detect and measure water losses across pipelines. Nearly 20-‐30% of water production by utilities is lost before it is delivered to a customer's meter. Inability to correctly detect leaks has lead to the reparation of the incorrect pipe, instead of the pipe
that actually needed to be fixed. Costs for repairing the faulty pipes increase when assessment of water mains with conventional equipment including acoustic sensors, data loggers, electro-‐magnetic sensors, and visual inspections lead to inaccurate results. Electro Scan chairman, Chuck Hansen, said, "By combining the latest technologies into our 4-‐in-‐1 Multi-‐Sensor Probe, offered as an exclusive service, utilities can quantify each leak's size, location, and estimated GPM (LPS), in minutes." Electro Scan's technology integrates a low-‐voltage conductivity sensor, high definition camera, pressure sensor and an acoustic sensor to offer accurate results. It can be used to check both pressurized and gravity water mains while the pipes remains operational. Equipped with a neutrally buoyant fiber optic cable, the technology can be used to assess conditions in 'up to 2,000 feet (610 meters) of water main from a single point of entry, accessed through fire hydrants, air valves, flow meters, gate valves, and pressure fittings,' said Electro Scan. There are several other product and service examples of this technology, and each has included a number of engineered solutions from across information, imaging, mechanical, and civicl engineering disciplines.
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Types of Core and Supportive Engineering within Texas’ Water Technology Cluster The following chart defines the depth and breadth of “engineering” on the design, development and deployment of water technology into the current and future infrastructure necessary to serve an array of end-‐‑users, communities, and industries. Simply, AccelerateH2O expects the continued integration and cross-‐‑functional nature of engineering into the reuse and repurposing of water through technology. Evidence further suggest that Texas must invest in STEM education, high school academies, and other opportunities to expose youth and students to the demand for water and water technology occupations, employment and industry expertise. Additional information on the role of engineering, water technology, and other case studies can be found in Appendices.
Core Engineering Supportive Engineering Chemical Engineering Materials Engineering
Polymer Engineering Process Engineering
Civil Engineering Municipal/Urban Engineering Mining Engineering
Environmental Engineering Geotechnical Engineering
Health and Safety Engineering Natural Resources Engineering
Ocean Engineering Hydraulics Engineering Thermal Engineering Naval Architecture
Agricultural Engineering Aquaculture Engineering
Bioprocess Engineering Ecological Engineering Energy Engineering
Wastewater Engineering Water Resources Engineering River Engineering Coastal Engineering Groundwater Engineering
Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering Control Engineering Power Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Acoustical Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Thermal Engineering Power Plant Engineering
Aerospace Engineering Aeronautics Astronautics Automation/Control System/ Mechatronics/Robotics
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Next Steps and Report Take Aways
One important take-‐‑away from the previous chart and prior sections of this report: water and water technology provide exciting, vibrant, and increasingly more innovation-‐‑driven employment, occupation, and industry opportunities for current and future generations. How we connect youth, students, veterans, and older adults with “water” requires immediate consideration and rethinking.
How individuals are trained, certified, and achieve career growth in water and water technology requires a more integrated and comprehensive discussion among ALL the provider of skills and talent development, not just the traditional nor current provider networks.
The more that technology and innovation unfold in the traditional elements of the water sector, the more challenged the status quo. Reliance upon technology firms to train staff, or for staff to leave the understanding and operations of technologies to consultants, engineers, and/or even the technology providers will separate necessary and often critical partnership between developer and end-‐‑user.
Lastly, the recognition that Texas has one of the largest global water and water technology “clusters of skills and competency” is not made lightly nor without consideration of context. The facts and data now prove the value of “water” as an economic competitive advantage, a driver of innovation capacity across a number of industries and sectors, and a resource that should not be considered in only policy, legal, nor financial terms.
Not discussed in this initial report are the levels of global expertise – found in Texas – among economic, financial, large-‐‑scale infrastructure project management, and the integration of highly technical and long-‐‑term ‘gut knowledge’ of solving grand challenge issues in water. We will be exploring these linkages and their impact on the future of occupation, employment and industry growth as internal to Texas AND expoert to global market scenarios.
Our “Next Steps” include:
• Formation of a Statewide Water Technology Skills and Talent Working Group to address challenges, opportunities, and strategies suggested in this initial report
• Knowledge-‐‑sharing of the data with regional workforce, economic development, industry, and academic partners to enhance the planning process for future sub-‐‑market clusters
• Utilization of our Texas Water Innovation Clearinghouse – www.accelerateH2O.org -‐‑ to form real-‐‑time ‘communities’ and to promote the Texas cluster
• Encourage statewide and regional elected and appointed leaders to adopt the Texas Water and Water Technology Cluster as an important economic competitiveness strategy