News

Center Publication Highlights Transportation Workforce Development Initiatives in Other Sectors

Posted March 2014

Recently, a lot of attention has been given to the German approach to workforce development.  Outlets like National Public Radio note that To Fill Skills Gap In U.S., Schools Look Abroad and that What Germans Know Could Help Bridge U.S. Workers’ Skill Gap.  This is not a new idea at the Center.  In fact in 2009, the Center produced a report as part of the TCRP project on Establishing a National Transit Industry Rail Vehicle Technician Qualification Program which explores workforce development practices in countries including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in the US based industries of electrical work, masonry, pipefitting and iron working that also promote a joint structure for workforce training.

The Center found that the core features of these effective training systems include:
1.  Sector-wide training partnerships
2.  Maintaining curriculum through a data-driven system
3.  Providing a secure source of funding
4.  Training and certification for new hires - training and apprenticeship
5.  Training and certification for lateral entrants and experienced
    incumbents

For more information on this research, read International and Domestic Comparisons: Building Capacity for Transit Training.