Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 54-20. Practices to Promote Gender Equity in the DOT Workforce

Women comprise only 15% of the overall transportation workforce, and this statistic declines in executive and leadership positions. For women of color, the numbers are even more disparate. In 2021, the U. S. Department of Transportation issued a Request for Information for Transportation Equity Data. More than 300 comments were received, including comments focused on the lack of representation of women in transportation agencies and the lack of equity in compensation by gender, leading to low gender diversity. In addition, commenters called for a reliable system for monitoring diversity, including gender, race/ethnicity, and ability, in the transportation workforce. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has a priority on creating pathways to equity during the term of its current president, Dr. Shawn Wilson. This priority includes fostering a culture within and across the state department of transportation (DOT) community that expands opportunities for under-represented populations based on age, gender, ethnicity, and race. DOTs have implemented programs, policies, and practices to address gender equity. However, a synthesis of current practice does not exist to examine challenges and solutions to take a step toward gender equity in the DOT workforce. The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT current practices related to promoting gender equity in their workforces (including attracting, retaining, and promoting women and those who identify as women).

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5303
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $55,000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic 54-20

• 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:

  Wadsworth, Trey

• Start Date: 20220531
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equity (Justice); Females; Gender; Labor force; Leadership; Promotion; Race; Recruiting; State departments of transportation; State of the practice; Training
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Education and Training; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01845544
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 54-20
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 16 2022 3:04PM