Final Scope

State DOTs are facing a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining sufficient numbers of engineers, project managers, and staff for other key leadership positions. DOTs are battling a hyper-competitive employment environment, increased retirements, and fewer civil engineering graduates - resulting in DOT challenges to attract and maintain a qualified workforce serving the public.

Some limitations affecting recruitment and retention efforts include:

• Set salary schedules and restrictions;
• Lack of incentives and employee recognition;
• Professional Engineering (PE) licensing requirements hindering advancement opportunities;
• Lack of structured training plans and cross-training for career development; and
• Outdated hiring and recruitment processes

Opportunities for recruiting and retention:

• Updated recruiting strategies, using technology platforms, and outreach using social media;
• Appreciation and understanding of generational differences for recruitment;
• Marketing and branding of DOT careers by highlighting work culture/service/greater good/purpose;
• Work-life balance and workplace flexibility, including teleworking; 
• Longevity employment contract compensation, including written documentation; and
• Increased use of technology advancements, digital approaches, and incorporation of AI in accomplishing the mission of state DOTs.

The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices for recruiting and retaining engineers, project managers, and staff for other key leadership positions.

Information for recruiting and retaining engineers, project managers, and staff for other key leadership positions to be gathered includes (but is not limited to):

• Strategies for expanding the existing pool of eligible staff to fill positions internally;
• Identify limitations; including those listed above;
• Identify opportunities, including those listed above;
• Written state DOT policies, programs, and practices; 
• Approaches for making state DOTs attractive to younger professionals; and
• Measures of success for these efforts, including key performance indicators.

Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of state DOTs, and follow-up interviews with selected DOTs for the development of case examples.
Information gaps and suggestions for research to address those gaps will be identified.

TRB Staff (consultant)
Sandra Q. Larson
Phone: 515-971-6329
Email: slarson@nas.edu

Meeting Dates
First Panel Meeting: March 12, 2025
Teleconference with Consultant: TBD
Second Panel: November 20, 2025; Washington D.C.

Topic Panel

Mark H Anthony, South Carolina Department of Transportation

Paul Chung, California Department of Transportation

Mary Leah Caillier Coco, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

Julie Heilman, Washington State Department of Transportation

Jeremiah Hutchinson, Maine Department of Transportation

Katherine A. Petros, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)