The workforce challenge

The nation's economy and the lifestyles of its citizens depend on a safe and efficient transportation system. In 2001, surface transportation comprised 8 percent of the gross domestic product and about 18 percent of average U.S. household expenditures, second only to housing. Yet surface transportation agencies face unprecedented challenges in recruiting and retaining the workforce necessary to deliver transportation infrastructure and services effectively The responsible and efficient operation of the nation's transportation system depends on a well-trained transportation system workforce. Successfully addressing workforce issues requires a collective effort, involving transportation agencies, the federal government, the private sector, and a range of academic institutions, as well as the transportation workforce.