Recruitment and Engagement on Display Ahead of National Transit Career Day

Public transportation agencies across the United States are continuing to recruit and retain the next generation of professionals. National Transit Career Day on November 12 offers a shared platform to raise awareness of the wide-ranging careers available in the $93 billion public transportation industry, which directly employs more than 430,000 people and supports millions of private-sector jobs.

The annual day encourages agencies, schools, and private-sector partners to host onsite events, virtual programs, or social media campaigns that introduce students and job seekers to the industry’s many career paths, while engaging current employees and highlighting career journeys.

IndyGo in Indianapolis, IN, is marking the day by pairing recruitment with community engagement. The agency will host its monthly bus driver hiring event, giving prospective candidates a chance to learn about the role, meet hiring representatives, and understand the training process. IndyGo staff will also visit the Goodwill Excel Center to talk with students about careers in transit and pathways to employment.

“Public transit is powered by dedicated professionals who serve our community every day,” said IndyGo Manager of Workforce Development Beth Bowling. “National Transit Career Day provides an opportunity to showcase the wide range of careers available at IndyGo and connect people with meaningful work that makes a difference in the lives of our riders.”

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) inNorfolk, VA, is also hosting a career fair, November 13, with open interviews and on-the-spot screening for bus driver trainees and mechanics.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in San Francisco, CA, is bringing the conversation directly to riders with career pop-ups at six stations. BART staff will be joined by local workforce boards, career centers, and community colleges to discuss careers in transportation, the skills required, and the positions that are essential to daily service, from engineers and electricians to maintenance technicians and financial analysts.

Ramping up training efforts, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), GA, recently launched a mobile classroom to certify bus drivers more efficiently. The agency can now train, test, and certify 30 or more drivers every five weeks, compared with 30 students every eight to 11 weeks previously.

“By cutting our training timeline nearly in half and expanding our session capacity, we are accelerating our ability to recruit, train, and deploy qualified drivers directly into service for our riders,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt.

The agency is also hosting a National Transit Career Day event for emerging professionals, students, and business/public organizations at its headquarters.

Supporting professional development of current employees, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver, CO, hosted Transit Academy in partnership with the National Transit Institute. The leadership program brought together transit professionals from across the country to collaborate and share best practices. Participants toured rail and bus maintenance facilities, operations stations, and the security command center. The week concluded with an executive roundtable with RTD leaders.

Members are encouraged to use APTA’s National Transit Career Day resources and sign up to participate.