Youth don't Want to Build Dykes

This partnership consists of companies, governments and NGOs and is very worried. It is not certain that Dutch companies can recruit enough people to accept big jobs. According to Renée Vergouwen, half of the companies now already struggle finding staff. The sector now is working to extend the ‘fishing pond', promoting the profession on schools. A national plan with educational packages in schools should warm youngsters for a job in the water sector. A survey by YoungWorks shows that people between 14 and 18 year consider water work as ‘boring, dirty and unattractive'. But Vergouwn emphasises that this has its cause in the relatively unknown character of the profession.

The shortage of staff will increase towards 8000 in 2012, substantial in a sector that is responsible for 46,000 employees. In the area of estuary technology (coastal protection and dredging), comparable shortages are expected. This may be limiting the water economy - also responsible for EUR5.7 billion exporting services, representing 1.5% of the total export, according to NWP figures. Estuary technology takes 40% of this share.

Publish your jobs on European Water News! 14 days for free.