Newport News Waterworks Holds Hiring Event to Combat 20% Vacancy Rate and Service Backlog
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 24, 2026
Newport News Waterworks and the city's Public Works department are co-hosting a joint hiring event to fill dozens of open positions, with Waterworks currently operating at roughly 20% vacancy — a shortage officials link directly to a 90-day backlog in water leak repairs. The combined recruiting effort reflects a broader challenge facing municipal utilities: competition from large infrastructure projects (such as the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel expansion) is drawing away skilled CDL-holding workers. The story illustrates the regional labor-market pressure on public-sector employers and the difficulty municipalities face competing with private and large-scale infrastructure employers for trade talent.
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