Washington State's Grant PUD is making steady progress on its 2026 hiring goals, but utility leaders say the bigger challenge is preparing for the specialized workforce the organization will need in the years ahead.
During an update to commissioners on Oct. 13, Vice President of Human Resources Tod Ayers described a labor market that has become more favorable for some positions but remains highly competitive for the technical roles that are essential to utility operations.
"We're seeing more applicants for administrative and general professional jobs than we did a year ago," Ayers told commissioners. "But the positions that are most critical to our mission, engineers, skilled trades, operators, IT professionals and cybersecurity specialists, are still very difficult to recruit."
Ayers reported that Grant PUD has filled 73 of the 91 positions included in its 2026 hiring plan and has made significant progress managing recruiting activity throughout the year. The utility filled 171 requisitions year-to-date and is actively recruiting for 33 open positions.
The average external recruitment takes about 41 days to fill, but some of the utility's highly specialized roles require much longer searches, especially for experienced electrical engineers, enterprise architecture positions and advanced cybersecurity roles, Ayers said.
Commissioners also heard about a longer-term challenge facing the utility: workforce succession.
About 23 percent of Grant PUD employees will be eligible for retirement within the next 10 years, Ayers explained, adding that many of these jobs take years to learn and waiting until someone retires before preparing a replacement creates the risk of losing valuable knowledge and slowing important projects.
To address those concerns, Grant PUD is investing heavily in workforce development and formal succession plans for critical roles. Ayers highlighted 26 job-shadow opportunities completed this year, partnerships with regional colleges and universities, and outreach efforts that connected the utility with more than 150 students.
"Our strategy is simple," Ayers told commissioners. "We need to grow our own talent, develop future leaders, and build relationships with students before they enter the workforce. The goal isn't just filling today's vacancies. It's making sure Grant PUD has the skilled workforce needed to serve customers for decades to come."
