What is Professional Capacity Building?

THE CHALLENGE:

A skilled workforce is a critical element in a transportation agency's ability to successfully develop, deliver, operate, and maintain regional and local transportation systems. However, the transportation industry is increasingly facing worker shortages. Workforce problems such as finding qualified staff, growing turnover rates, retention of existing staff and their institutional experiences, and attraction of new entrants plague agencies. Similarly, agencies around the world are challenged to deliver consistent, high quality 21st century transportation system solutions that meet the needs of citizens of every type.

THE RESPONSE:

To address these problems, the U.S. Department of Transportation's modal administrations have promoted the emergence and growth of programs designed to develop workforce knowledge, skills, and abilities - also referred to as "professional capacity building". The purpose of these programs is to promote and make available learning opportunities for the transportation workforce, thus strengthening the competency and capabilities of professionals, increasing agency performance and adaptability, and facilitating the integration of new graduates and new hires into the workforce.

To date, eight programs have been established (see program list on the side), and others are in the planning stages. Each program addresses a critical topic in transportation and targets the development of learning for their specific audience needs.