Illinois DOT’s new Human Capital Strategic Plan aims to address skills gap

idotlogo-betterroadsThe Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is aiming to address a projected skills gap with a new Human Capital Strategic Plan.

Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider released the plan on Wednesday and, according to an IDOT press release, the plan is intended to “help create and foster a skilled, knowledgeable workforce that can meet and fulfill the emerging needs in transportation.”

Schneider said the plan will drive economic development, which relies on transportation.

“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,” Schneider said in a prepared statement. “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.”

IDOT notes that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects transportation jobs to grow 23 percent by 2040, but the majority of industry business leaders are concerned that retirements and a lack of training opportunities will leave them with too few workers to fill those positions.

The agency’s plan looks to address that skills gap by providing the industry with a way to identify workforce trends, maximize resources and find ways to attract new workers.

For more details about IDOT’s Human Capital Strategic Plan, click here.