BACKGROUND

Unemployment and under-employment of individuals with disabilities occur throughout the U.S. economy. Although the public transportation industry has long recognized the need to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse workforce, individuals with disabilities have not been a focus of that effort. These individuals represent a potential, untapped workforce, especially now, as ridership rates increase and public transportation agencies struggle to fill open positions. People with disabilities are more likely than people without disabilities to rely on public transportation and have lived experiences that can benefit the industry. 

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2021, the BLS reported that only 19.1 percent of individuals with a disability were employed, while 63.7 percent of individuals without a disability were employed. Additionally, 29 percent of workers with a disability were employed part-time, compared with 16 percent for those with no disability, reflecting the persistent challenge of under-employment of this population.  
• National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). Reports from NHTS have found that people with travel-limiting disabilities were less likely to be employed and more likely to use public transportation.

New practices and innovative strategies are needed to build a robust and inclusive public transportation workforce that has more individuals with disabilities.  A lack of knowledge and guidance on how to accomplish this presents challenges. This research project should (1) capture and present information about effective recruitment, development, and retention policies and strategies, (2) aggregate findings into replicable models, (3) develop and package materials and resources for hiring managers and workforce development professionals, and (4) serve as the foundation for future research. 

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for the public transportation industry to assess and improve policies and practices for recruiting, developing, and retaining individuals with disabilities. The research should identify and examine potential barriers to inclusive workforce development and specify promising practices for removing barriers.

Status

Research is underway.