RETIREMENT WAVE LOOMS FOR STATE DOTS : NEW NATIONAL STUDY SAYS BUDGET CUTS AND WIDER DUTIES WORSEN IMPACT OF KEY STAFFERS' DEPARTURES

A recent report titled The Workforce Challenge by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) reveals portends concern for the transportation sector. High retirement rates and widespread hiring freezes are threatening to cause serious problems for already understaffed state DOTs. Many agencies are reporting that a large percentage of their staff will be of retirement age within the next 10 years, and the lack of funding for competitive salaries is further hampering their ability to hold on to employees. Some agencies are experimenting with new programs to help retain employees, such as rehiring retirees. There has also been a substantial increase in the volume and variety of tasks that has led agencies to contract out to private firms. Some agencies are encouraging high school-aged students into the transportation sector, while a number of states have increased their civil engineering scholarship programs to attract new students. While some state DOTs are eliminating positions in order to trim budgets, other agencies are increasing salaries to narrow the pay gap. The TRB has recommended that state DOTs and transit authorities spend more on training, despite the fact that many state legislators are not keen on increasing training expenditures. Finally, the TRB is also calling upon the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to initiate a program of "innovation in human resource practices". Information on this program is available at: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/transworkforce.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08919526
• Corporate Authors:

  McGraw-Hill, Incorporated

  330 West 42nd Street
  New York, NY  United States  10036
• Authors:
  • Ichniowski, T
  • Illia, T
  • Hampton, T
  • Powers, M B
  • Rosta, P
  • Hitchings, L
  • Korman, R
• Publication Date: 2003-7-14

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 12-13
• Serial:
  • ENR
  • Volume: 251
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0891-9526

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Retirement; State departments of transportation; Training; Workforce
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Education and Training; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962223
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 2 2003 12:00AM