Challenges to Workforce Resiliency in Rural Communities: An Analysis of State Departments of Transportation in U.S. District 6

A safe, efficient, and effective transportation system is essential for the growth and stability of the nation’s economy and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. The effectiveness of the transportation infrastructure and service industry depends heavily on the ability to recruit and retain a highly skilled and qualified workforce. Public transportation agencies are currently facing unprecedented challenges in preserving the workforce necessary to function effectively and will need robust strategies to maintain workforce resiliency by recruiting, promoting, and retaining quality staff needed to construct and maintain public transportation infrastructure now and into the future. As industries across the United States experience a shortage of skilled talent, the potential impact to the rural workforce, which could severely impair the operation of rural infrastructure systems, has not been independently analyzed. This study investigates the challenges leading to potential workforce issues within state departments of transportation (DOTs) located within United States Department of Transportation Region 6 States (Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas). The primary emphasis of this study is to access the current outlook of the urban DOT employee regarding rural regions of their DOT and how this compares to the outlook of a rural DOT employee. The findings show that DOTs have a more difficult time recruiting and retaining employees in their rural regions, morale is lower for DOT employees that work in rural areas, and rural DOT employees feel that DOTs are not addressing their needs. These results will help bring light to a growing concern about DOT employment in rural areas. Future research will then look at the differences between the rural and urban DOT workforce to help DOTs strategize their hiring and retention practices.