BACKGROUND
In the past few decades, the U.S. economy has undergone tremendous structural transformations. The workforce has been impacted by notable trends, including the emergence of the digital economy, and the forces of globalization and interconnected trade. As the economy moves forward, automation and robotics present both a disruptive reality and a potential opportunity to the U.S. labor work force.
Released by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in March 2017, “Robots and Jobs: Evidence from U.S. Labor Markets” found that between 1990 and 2007 each additional robot per thousand workers reduced employment by 0.18-0.35 percentage points. With increased automation, this figure could increase. At this pace, middle-class jobs could become obsolete.
Still, observers of past technological innovation realize the potential for the creation of new positions, and that lower marginal costs can enhance further job creation. For example, bank teller positions increased even after the ATM was introduced due to the expansion of bank branches. While cross-country trucking jobs may seem prone to automation replacement, an article by Brookings argues that the skills and duties of drivers are underestimated, and that advancements in automation will create complementary jobs. Furthermore, some public transportation agencies struggle to attract enough labor for operations to the point where service is jeopardized.
The public transportation industry is particularly exposed to the coming technological changes. Automakers have shown willingness to participate in the mobility sector by collaborating with Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) in advancing self-driving technology. Innovative public transportation agencies have begun testing Low Speed Automated Vehicles (LSAV) as shuttles. These pilot programs may eventually develop into automated trunk line testing (see FTA’s request for comment relating to automated transit buses https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/vehicle-automation-requests-comment ), which would have a direct effect on labor.
Labor transitions that automation will bring are approaching. Increased knowledge and awareness can help the public transportation industry plan for and adapt to new labor realities and skillset demands.
OBJECTIVE
- Status quo analysis of transit labor market that assess current labor market segments/jobs and the current demographics, pay, and skills required for these jobs.
- Ranking of jobs within the public transportation industry that are most and least susceptible to replacement (or conversion to another agency role based on additional training and/or revisions to the organizational chart) via automated technologies.
- An overall estimation of total public transportation jobs at risk of replacement, along with potential job opportunities created because of automation in transit.
- A description of the skills that the public transportation workforce will need to handle the new technologies.
- A timeframe estimate for when the autonomous vehicles (AV) technologies could have an impact on the workforce.
- A generalized description of how public transportation agencies are currently working with organized labor in implementing current technology and training programs and what barriers exist in doing so.
- A set of historic and real-time data and metrics to be collected and monitored on an ongoing basis to track the effect of automation on the workforce; recommend ideal entities for collection and analysis of such data.
- Recommendations for workforce transitioning, re-training, partnerships, and additional steps that public transportation agencies can take to anticipate technological change as it relates to its labor force, noting current successful transit apprenticeship programs.
RESEARCH PLAN
The TCRP is seeking proposals on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to present a research plan that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to meeting the research objective.
The research plan shall be divided into tasks that present, in detail, the work proposed in each task. The research plan shall describe appropriate deliverables that include, but are not limited to, the following (which also represent key project milestones):
- An interim report (i.e., a technical memoranda or report) and panel teleconference, which occurs after the expenditure of no more than 40 percent of the project budget,
- Draft report,
- Final report, and
- Technical memorandum, titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” (see Special Note F).
The research plan may include additional deliverables as well as additional panel meetings via teleconference. The research plan shall have a schedule for the project that includes 3 weeks for panel review of the interim report, 3 weeks for panel review of the draft final report, and 3 weeks for contractor revision of the draft final report.
STATUS: Research is completed and the final deliverable is in publication.
