Future skill sets for the municipal engineer

Municipal engineering, at one time the career of choice for many civil engineers, has changed, as has the manner in which municipal works are now delivered. This paper looks at what the municipal engineer does, where the work is done and the skill sets required to perform the work. New skill sets, required for the future, are then examined against a background of changes in legislation together with environmental pressures affecting local authorities. The information has been examined to show what the skill sets of the engineer of the future might be and how the municipal engineer might need to change in order to meet future challenges. Account is taken of the authors' experience in local government and private industry. Visits were made to seven local authorities in the north west of England and a staff questionnaire was conducted in the region in order that data could be gathered on the topic.