For the second consecutive year, Groundwater Week featured a roundtable discussion on the industry’s top concern: workforce development.
NGWA Past President Jeff Williams, MGWC, CVCLD, moderated the discussion at Groundwater Week 2024. The roundtable panel included:
- NGWA Board Director Jeremy Bach of Bach Drilling Co. in Ellensburg, Washington
- Chance Coats of Coats Pump & Supply Inc. in Dexter, New Mexico
- Ryan Gill of Clouser Drilling Inc. in Grants Pass, Oregon.
“The biggest thing I took away is that everyone’s having the same issues; it’s going to take multiple solutions — no silver bullets,” said Bach who nearly always operates his drilling rig by himself after having a hard time finding workers.
Some said that equipment must do more because labor is harder to find, which led to discussion on investing in equipment vs. investing in labor. Investing in labor requires a time commitment of onboarding and training that must be recognized.
Coats, who was also on the workforce development roundtable in 2023, says that as a water well contractor it’s required to be adaptable to many situations. That’s just the nature of the profession.
“Why would the business end of things be any different?” he said.
In making the pitch to a potential new employee, Coats said you must be honest.
“It’s going to be the hardest work you’ve ever done, but it’s rewarding,” he said. “Basically, you’re providing life. Young people want to matter and that is appealing to them.”
Outside the roundtable discussion throughout Groundwater Week 2024, workforce development was discussed. One industry veteran reiterated a common refrain that companies need to stop trying to change employees to fit the company but rather the company itself needs to change to fit the next generation of employees.
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All recordings of Groundwater Week 2024 workshops are on the NGWA Learning Center. Attendees will receive a coupon code to access workshop recordings February 1-15 for free to gain lifetime access to them. Workshop recordings are also available for purchase for non-attendees.