HighLight Heading
April 2008
Report examines diversity in DOT workforce
Minorities and women are projected to make up a growing portion of the U.S. labor force, yet the data available on transportation industry employees by gender and race are limited.
A 2007 report by Dr. Samuel Myers and Lawrencina Mason Oramalu of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs addresses this information need. The report, Racial and Gender Diversity in State DOTs and Transit Agencies: A Benchmark Scoping, is a joint report of the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP report 120) and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP report 585).
The report documents and analyzes racial and gender diversity in state departments of transportation and transit agencies. This information is needed by state DOTs and transit agencies to assess the current diversity of their workforce; establish a benchmark against which to measure and track efforts to recruit, promote, and retain a diverse workforce; and identify successful practices being applied throughout the industry.
The objectives of the project were to identify sources of existing data; assess the quality of the data; identify gaps and determine what additional data need to be collected to establish a credible benchmark; and establish a baseline reflecting the current status of racial and gender diversity in state DOTs and transit agencies.
Overall, the researchers found that the existing data are not comprehensive. As a result of the analysis, they propose five key recommendations:
- Make it easier for agencies to submit their data electronically.
- Provide standardized training and facilitate the sharing of information and best practices among agencies.
- Communicate the key elements of an effective affirmative action plan.
- To promote greater accuracy, improve agencies’ internal monitoring and tracking systems.
- Make diversity an agency priority by holding everyone accountable for achieving diversity goals.
To download the report, visit www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?ID=8027.