Careers in Public Works
Workforce Development Strategy and Roadmap
The Workforce Development Committee was formed to develop a workforce strategy and ensure that the association’s workforce development investment, activities, and programs produce the outcomes to support a skilled workforce in the public works sector. Please see the Workforce Development Strategy for focus areas and outcomes of the committee.
The Workforce Development Roadmap outlines the Workforce Development Committee's strategies and goals to increase recruitment and retention for public works.
Shaping the World of Public Works Booklet
The Shaping the World of Public Works Booklet is perfect for use with both secondary schools and community outreach efforts. This 20-page, full-color, informational booklet on public works careers is a fantastic item to get into students' hands at outreach presentations, career fairs, community events, and during National Public Works Week activities. With its sturdy construction, it is a great tool to provide tangible information about opportunities in public works for students, teachers, parents, and candidates.
The printable SWPW Career Chart provides a downloadable option of the chart included in the booklet. The chart cross-references 150 popular public works positions to their career clusters while providing working environment, required education, and average salary. This easy-to-print item provides immediate access to the information included on the chart in the booklet. This is a great way to preview what the materials include or to provide information to an individual.
Career Resources
Welcoming new employees effectively is critical to building a strong, engaged, and productive public works team. The APWA Workforce Development Committee has curated employee onboarding tools and resources for those public works organizations who would like to develop or enhance their current onboarding processes. The Onboarding Toolbox provides templates for common tools used during onboarding. These are ready for agencies to personalize to fit their needs, with various formats provided. There are also a series of onboarding documents and/or templates from a variety of public works agencies to use for reference.
APWA WorkZone
The APWA WorkZone provides listings of public work job opportunities across North America. Click through the available opportunities in APWA WorkZone or contact your local public works department today to see what jobs and career opportunities are available.
If you learn better by doing, you might find that some agencies can give you much-needed experience through part-time or temporary positions they have open. Some agencies even offer internships that provide college credit.
Resource Center
Visit the Resource Center to check out resources related to public works careers.
Public Work Stories
