SPR-5000: Retention of the Early-Career Highway Technician Workforce: Exploring and Addressing Their Career Trajectories and Challenges

This project addresses retention among early-career highway technician employees by examining their career trajectories, challenges, and development opportunities. It includes a literature review, analysis of the Indiana Department of Transporttion (INDOT)’s existing workforce practices, benchmarking with other state departments of transportation (DOTs) and similar industries, case studies, and survey-based insights. The final outcomes will include actionable strategies and a comprehensive report to support INDOT’s workforce development and retention improvements.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $276,248.00
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR-5000

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP

  Purdue University
  1284 Civil Engineering Building, Room 4154
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-1284
• Principal Investigators:

  Chen, Yunfeng

  Dunlop, Steven

  Zhang, Jiansong

• Start Date: 20251001
• Expected Completion Date: 20270930
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway engineers; Literature reviews; Personnel retention; Technicians; Workforce development
• Identifier Terms: Indiana Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01966932
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Indiana Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: SPR-5000
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 25 2025 10:26AM