Training to Meet Transportation Agency Workforce Needs

Abstract

Today’s need for workforce training is driven by the many changes taking place in the workplace. In response to these changes, many employers provide training, education, and skill development opportunities and ask employees to assume responsibility for developing and maintaining necessary skills. Transportation agencies face changes because of new transportation technologies and innovations, standards and regulations, and today’s primary work tools—computers, information technologies, and telecommunications systems. However, many of these agencies invest too little—about one quarter of benchmark levels—in training and in doing so ignore evidence that insufficient and inadequate training leads to inefficiencies, poor performance, unnecessary resource expenditures, and even system failures. The challenge of meeting training needs is great, but successful models exist in state and local agencies that can be adapted as necessary to meet individual agency needs; these often feature partnerships with universities, community colleges, and training institutes.