The water industry is facing an exodus of engineers, with 70% of professionals considering a move to other sectors in the next two years. That’s according to a new report from specialist water industry recruitment firm, Water by Murray.

The ‘Water Industry Labour Report’ found that seven out of ten engineers were considering working in an alternative sector, with renewables, nuclear, and oil & gas the main destinations of choice for professionals. This comes at a time when the water industry is already facing a major talent shortage, with 26% of respondents listing ‘hiring & skills’ as the single largest issue facing their company.

The study of over 3,900 engineers from across the water industry also revealed that employers face an acute shortage of experienced engineers which should sound alarm bells for firms already struggling to recruit ahead of AMP8. These findings are even more concerning due to the industry’s retirement cliff, with research by Stonehaven revealing that over one-fifth of the engineering workforce is set to retire by 2030.

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