Utility Workforce of the Future

With new regulations, the ever increasing rate of business change based on new technologies, Smart Grid initiatives, and an aging workforce, it is time for utilities to formally plan for the workforce of the future. Defining new and future roles, competencies, and skills now will allow utilities to accurately develop sustainable and integrated training pathways for the future. This approach allows time to develop adaptable, non-vendor specific curriculum, identify and manage training partners, and invest training dollars and time efficiently.

National efforts including cyber security and service reliability have challenged utilities to provide these new skill sets needed for current employees.  Additionally, the front line staff will not be the only employees impacted.  Research shows that customer facing jobs, the first level of management, as well as the positions in IT will all transform. 

In order to properly plan for the workforce of the future, West Monroe works with utilities to:

  • Identify critical business processes within the organization impacted by new technologies and relationships
  • Redefine roles within the organization to efficiently manage new technologies and processes
  • Combine and leverage skill sets of all employees
  • Define new skill sets and competencies needed and an integrated labor transformation strategy
  • Develop new ways to manage smarter employees
  • Frame learning pathways and curriculum delivery with alliance partners

The Energy and Utilities Workforce team at West Monroe has helped  utilities successfully navigate through the process of restructuring and planning for the proper workforce, working through complex changes in regulation, and keeping up with the incremental changes in new technologies that impact utilities’ workforce today. Utilities that go through these steps and properly transform their labor strategy and processes enjoy lower cost of operations and scalable future-ready growth.  For more information, please contact Jack Winter.

Download the Workforce of the Future Whitepaper Here