Engineering Workforce Consortium has announced that the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and its National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) have joined the coalition, strengthening efforts to address the growing workforce shortage impacting infrastructure development across the United States.
AASHTO’s participation expands the consortium’s connection to state departments of transportation, linking recruitment and retention initiatives directly with agencies responsible for delivering projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With demand for engineering expertise surging, state DOTs are under pressure to secure talent needed to plan and execute critical transportation improvements.
The Engineering Workforce Consortium brings together more than 20 professional societies, trade associations, and academic institutions around three key goals: attracting new engineering talent, retaining the current workforce, and supporting long-term industry sustainability.
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Jim Tymon, Executive Director of AASHTO, said the organization joined the consortium to support an industry-wide approach to addressing workforce shortages and to collaborate with engineering leaders to build a stronger talent pipeline for transportation projects nationwide.
Tracy Larkin Thomason, Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation and Chair of NOCoE’s Strategic Advisory Committee, emphasized the importance of workforce development for transportation systems and operations. She noted that the partnership will help raise awareness of career opportunities and strengthen skill development across the sector.
Linda Bauer Darr, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), said AASHTO’s involvement brings state transportation leadership directly into the coalition, ensuring workforce solutions are shaped by agencies responsible for infrastructure delivery.
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Through the partnership, AASHTO’s network of state DOTs will gain access to EWC programs ranging from K–12 STEM engagement initiatives to retention efforts such as RetainHER, which focuses on supporting women in engineering careers. The collaboration also provides shared resources, best practices, and a unified platform for tackling workforce challenges across the industry.
Leaders from the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) said the expanded coalition strengthens the industry’s ability to address talent shortages and prepare the workforce needed to support large-scale infrastructure investments.
The workforce gap has already contributed to project delays and strained the impact of federal infrastructure funding. By bringing together public agencies, professional organizations, and academic partners, the Engineering Workforce Consortium aims to build a sustainable engineering talent pipeline capable of supporting the nation’s long-term infrastructure needs.
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