U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has signed an agreement with the Women's Transportation Seminar International to encourage women to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, while pursuing careers in transportation.


"There's tremendous opportunity out there for women interested in transportation-related careers," said LaHood. "We need to do more to prepare, train and educate young women about the possibilities that await them."

LaHood said the need for environmental engineers and technicians is expected to rise by 30 percent over the next decade. The Department of Labor reported in 2008 that less than 6 percent of employed women worked in transportation, and only 10 percent of all civil engineers in the U.S. are women.

"WTS is excited to launch this strategic partnership with DOT and to help develop a transportation workforce of the future," said Elaine Dezenski, WTS International president. "Through this effort, we will work with government and industry to attract and prepare more girls and women for careers in transportation."

WTS will work with the DOT to organize a series of outreach sessions in 2010 and 2011 throughout the U.S. Sessions will focus on workforce development as it relates to science, technology, engineering and math, with specific attention given to attracting and retaining a highly qualified, diverse and technically advanced workforce for the future.

Some of the goals set out in the agreement include developing a tool-kit of best practices in the areas of mentoring, promoting women entrepreneurs and attracting students in technical fields into transportation; developing more effective professional development opportunities for women across the lifecycle of a career; and developing ideas and partnerships to encourage girls (13-18 years) to consider careers in transportation.

The partnership also aims to understand where gaps exist in the attraction and retention of women in transportation-oriented technical fields and to engage the WTS community in a broad-based policy initiative that supports the advancement of women in U.S. transportation.