Public Transit Agencies Celebrate National Transit Career Day

Public transit agencies across the U.S. celebrated National Transit Career Day Nov. 13. Joining APTA, private organizations, and industry partners, the agencies held recruitment events, employee recognition initiatives, and community outreach programs to highlight the broad scope of careers available in transportation.

In Bakersfield, CA, the Golden Empire Transit District (GET) hosted a public job fair with onsite interviews.

“National Transit Career Day gives us the chance to showcase career opportunities right here in Bakersfield and demonstrate how public transportation careers strengthen our community,” said Chris James, Golden Empire Transit CEO. “We’re proud to offer positions across multiple disciplines. This year’s job fair—with onsite interviews—makes it even easier for qualified candidates to take the first step toward a meaningful career.”

In Vancouver, WA, C-TRAN employees volunteered to “swap jobs” with coworkers from other departments. The agency’s job swap program introduced employees to different roles within the agency, building a better understanding and appreciation of what colleagues across C-TRAN do.

Employees from C-TRAN’s customer service, fixed-route operations, procurement, finance, inventory, and planning departments shadowed one another, learning more about the work they do and how it impacts the bigger picture at the agency.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) hosted a series of events and outreach activities to engage both current employees and community members interested in careers in public transit. Highlights included:

Bus driver “Red Carpet” career fair
Community application sessions
Partner in-service & cohort awareness events
“Day in the Life” videos featuring bus drivers and mechanics shared with community partners and schools
Service quality coffee & conversation sessions for internal staff
Veteran outreach initiatives
Social media and digital career awareness campaigns
Early career outreach in local schools and trade programs

“National Transit Career Day gives us the opportunity to showcase the incredible range of career pathways available right here in Greater Cleveland,” said George Fields, GCRTA deputy general manager, human resources. “Public transportation careers are not just jobs, they are opportunities to strengthen community connections and improve mobility across our region.”

In San Jose, CA, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) celebrated National Transit Career Day by hosting its inaugural Transit Careers Summit at its new headquarters.

The summit highlighted the latest innovations in public transit careers, including a featured presentation on exoskeleton technology in transit maintenance, demonstrating how wearable robotics are transforming the way transit employees work safely and efficiently.

Attendees also explored career paths through interactive sessions, panel discussions, resume reviews, networking, and recruitment information, all led by VTA employees.

VTA’s Women Innovating Transit (WIT): Breaking Barriers in Transportation Careers session showcased the diverse range of opportunities available to people looking to start a career in transit. Alongside the breakout sessions, participants could attend career counseling sessions and participate in resume workshops.

“National Transit Career Day is a chance to showcase how public transit combines innovation, technology, and community service,” said Greg Richardson, VTA assistant general manager. “We offer positions across multiple disciplines, from technical and operations roles to administrative and planning functions. Join an industry that makes a real impact on mobility and safety across our communities.”

To support workforce development for its members, APTA developed a toolkit with career videos, brochures, and additional resources to assist with recruiting and retaining staff. In addition, APTA has a six-part Workforce Development Series offering best practices, case studies, and strategies for recruiting and retaining talent. Topics include promoting transit careers, creating internships and apprenticeships, and building transit-focused curricula. These resources expand on APTA’s 2021 Transit Workforce Readiness Guide. For questions, contact workforce@apta.com.