IDOT releases human capital strategic plan,
aims to build 21st Century transportation workforce
State partners with industry to address
transportation “skills gap”
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[June 06, 2014]
CHICAGO – Illinois Transportation
Secretary Ann L. Schneider today released the Illinois Department of
Transportation’s first Human Capital Strategic Plan to help create and
foster a skilled, knowledgeable workforce that can meet and fulfill the
emerging needs in transportation. The secretary kicked off the plan’s
release by hosting a roundtable with more than 20 industry leaders in
Chicago to begin building a 21st century workforce that supports the
state’s multi-modal transportation system.
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“Transportation drives economic development. As the country’s
freight hub, we are in an enviable position in Illinois to take
advantage of the opportunities to compete in today’s global
economy,” Secretary Schneider said. “Both the public and private
sectors are in agreement that we need to be doing everything we can
to meet the workforce demands of our constantly changing industry.
This Human Capital Strategic Plan will serve to build a common
foundation on which we can work together to transform transportation
for tomorrow.”
Jobs in the transportation sector are projected to grow 23 percent
by 2040, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But
almost two out of three industry CEOs in surveys indicated they are
worried they won’t have the workers they need to meet those goals
due to retirements and a shortage of training opportunities.
The Human Capital Strategic Plan aims to address the “skills gap” by
establishing a framework for IDOT and its industry partners to
identify workforce trends, maximize existing resources, and develop
solutions to attract new and diverse staff.
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To view the plan, visit
www.dot.state.il.us/opp/planning.html .
Secretary Schneider was appointed chairwoman of the U.S. Department
of Transportation’s National Freight Advisory Committee last year to
begin addressing the evolving issues of the country’s freight and
logistics industries. She built upon those efforts last month by
teaming with industry leaders to form the Illinois State Freight
Advisory Council. Each year, more than 700 million tons of freight
moves in and out of Illinois across multiple modes of
transportation.
[Text received; GUY TRIDGELL,
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION] |