Workforce Planning and Human Resource Development Strategies for Minnesota's Public Transportation Agencies

Summary:

With an aging workforce and a significant number of staff retirements on the horizon, Minnesota’s public transportation agencies — like other states’ agencies across the country — must attract the next generation of employees or risk service disruptions and other challenges. To improve the pool of qualified applicants and build a healthy workforce pipeline for the future, Minnesota’s public transportation agencies sought an objective evaluation of its hiring policies and workplace culture. A team of human resource experts from the University of Minnesota was chosen to investigate and analyze the agencies’ practices. The work culminated in a variety of recommendations to enhance the recruitment process and increase on-the-job satisfaction. From targeted marketing campaigns and clearer job descriptions to more opportunities for advancement, the strategies identified by the research team will help Minnesota’s transportation agencies attract and retain a younger and more diverse workforce for years to come.

Final Deliverables:

• Workforce Planning and Human Resource Development Strategies for Minnesota's Public Transportation Agencies (Report #2021-06)
• Fact Sheet: Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Minnesota's Transportation Workforce (Fact Sheet #2021-06FS)
• Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Minnesota's Transportation Workfoce (Research Summary)

Related Materials:

• Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Minnesota's Transportation Workforce  (Blog Post)
• Fact Sheet  (Brochure/Handout)

Related Research:

• Expanding the Transportation Workforce in Local Agencies: Awareness-Building Activities and Development of the Training Course Roadmap for Future Civil Technicians

Project Personnel:

Principal Investigator:  Kenneth Bartlett

Co-Principal Investigator:  Joshua Collins

Technical Liaison:  Lyndon Robjent

Project Coordinator:  Thomas Johnson-Kaiser

Panel Members: 
Amy Honer - Anoka County
Chris Byrd - Stearns County
David Bramwell - Hennepin County
Donna Rickeman - McLeod County
Hannah Tjoflat - McLeod County
Heather Madigan Clark - Human Resources
Kent Exner - Apex Engineering Group
Krysten S. Foster - Stonebrooke Engineering
Marcus Culver - City of Brooklyn Park
Mark Krebsbach - Dakota County
Ryan Thilges - Blue Earth County
Steve Groen - Minnehaha County Highway Department