Join us at the 25th Anniversary Mid-West Esri Utility Users Group to collaborate and get information on the latest Esri technology and how it applies to the utility industry.

PRESENTATION

Solving the GIS Staffing Challenge: New Models for a Changing Workforce

March 30, 2026 @ 4:15pm  | Clarke Wiley

Utilities across the country are feeling the impact of a rapidly changing workforce, especially in GIS. What used to be stable, long‑tenured GIS roles has shifted to a mobile, career‑driven talent pool that often moves on after gaining experience. The result is a costly cycle of hiring, training, turnover, and backlog recovery. Meanwhile, GIS data quality slips, operational initiatives stall, and GIS teams struggle to keep up.

This session examines the root causes of the GIS staffing challenge and presents a practical, achievable model for building a GIS operation that thrives despite turnover.

We will introduce four proven practices:

• Offloading continuous data maintenance so internal staff can focus on strategic, high‑value work
• Unlocking advanced GIS capabilities utilities already own but underutilize
• Positioning GIS as a strategic driver of engineering, operations, and planning
• Creating flexible, scalable capacity so basic data operations never depend on one person

Attendees will learn how forward‑thinking utilities are modernizing their GIS workforce model, reducing burnout, improving retention, and elevating GIS from a mapping function to a strategic capability. If your utility struggles to keep GIS positions filled or to stay current on data maintenance, this session delivers the clarity, and the roadmap, you need.

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