Highways Modal Profile An Overview of Highway Workforce Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

Highways Profile Overview Profile part of larger effort to craft a national transportation workforce development strategy. National plan will encompass all modes, meet USDOT’s goals for safety, livable communities, economic competitiveness, environ. sustainability, org. excellence. Data and analyses reported intended to describe the Highway industry and workforce based on the latest available research. Evolving document, we need your input.

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS INDUSTRY National Highway System covers over 46,000 miles and connects US’s principal metro areas and industrial centers; serves the National defense; and connects critical border points. Local governments own about 76 percent. State governments own around 21 percent. Feds own 3%.

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS INDUSTRY While a great deal of funding comes from Fed, majority of funding and workforce at state and local level.

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS WORKFORCE Important mode because estimated 80% of all State DOT employees work in Highway area. Highway workforce consists of all occupations dealing directly with: Construction Engineering Maintenance Finance Planning Safety Environmental considerations

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS WORKFORCE

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS WORKFORCE

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS WORKFORCE

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAYS SKILL NEEDS Research of programs and best practices indicates that positioning Highway agencies and private firms as an employer of choice will be crucial. Critical competencies needed across DOTs include: Leadership, learning and strategic systems thinking, quality management, organizational knowledge, people management, and technical knowledge.

LOOKING FORWARD TO A NATIONAL STRATEGY Solutions to challenges facing the Highway industry exist, but may require timely investment and allocation of resources by both industry and government. Challenges/opportunities are mirrored in other modes of the national trans workforce. Stakeholders need to work together