This project set out to uncover the root causes of the shortage and provide practical strategies to help agencies recruit, retain, and strengthen their frontline workforce.
Public transportation providers are facing rising inflation, supply chain constraints, and a shrinking labor pool, all while trying to meet the essential mobility needs of their communities. APTA needed insights that not only explained the scale and nature of the shortage but also pointed the way toward real-world solutions that could be implemented quickly. To meet that need, Foursquare ITP designed and led a two-phase study in partnership with APTA.
First, we surveyed transit agencies and conducted background research to uncover the broader economic drivers of the shortage. Next, we surveyed frontline workers and carried out in-depth interviews with select agencies to develop detailed case studies of how the crisis was playing out on the ground. Drawing on our long-standing relationships with transit providers, we were able to engage staff at every level, from frontline workers to leadership, and use those perspectives to shape a widely shared research report and a practical toolkit that gives agencies concrete steps to improve recruitment, hiring, and retention.
Our work gave APTA members not only a deeper understanding of the workforce crisis but also tools they could immediately put into practice, strengthening agency capacity in the face of ongoing economic pressures. The report, Transit Workforce Shortage: Root Causes, Potential Solutions, and the Road Ahead, has been shared through APTA webinars and conference workshops, helping agencies across the country better understand the workforce crisis and take action to strengthen their operations.
Solutions and Outcomes
- Delivered an APTA-published research report and toolkit with practical, actionable solutions.
- Provided industry-informed tools and insights based on real-world challenges that build agency capacity and prepare the industry for future workforce needs.