Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 56-22. State DOT Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Engineering, Planning, and Management Employees

State departments of transportation (DOTs) are facing a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of engineers, planners, managers, and staff for other key positions. Retirements, fewer civil engineering graduates, and a hyper-competitive employment environment make it difficult for state DOTs to attract and maintain the level of skilled employees they need. Other factors such as greater complexity of construction methods have also added challenges for agencies’ efforts to develop and retain critical positions such as construction project managers. The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices for recruiting and retaining engineers, planners, managers, and other key positions. Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to): State DOT policies, programs, and practices for recruiting needed employees; Programs, practices, and incentives to help retain employees; Approaches for making state DOTs attractive to younger professionals; Strategies for expanding the existing pool of eligible staff to fill needed positions; Implementation and performance measurement, including determining competency; Measures of success. Information will be collected through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected agencies for the development of case examples. Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5733
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $55000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic 56-22

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Gause, Jo

• Start Date: 20240723
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Engineers; Personnel retention; Recruiting; State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01919867
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 56-22
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 28 2024 4:32PM