An estimated 60,000 new workers will be required in order to support the building and operation of rail, road, bus and tram networks in the West Midlands region in the coming 15 years. 

Research carried out by Transport for West Midlands uncovered the vast employment opportunities, however, a new report by the National Skills Academy for Rail points out that the positions will be for those with the necessary training whilst highlighting the region’s current transport skills gap.

The Rail Training Centre at the City of Wolverhampton College is an initiative by the West Midlands Combined Authority and is just one of its approaches to supporting those wishing to work in the transport sector in the future

The launch of the Transport Skills Academy programme is an initiative by Transport for West Midlands which is also part of the West Midlands Combined Authority and gives transport industry training providers the opportunity to deliver the large range of skills required in order to take on the well paid and secure positions within the sector.

Huge projects such as HS2 and Transport for West Midlands’ £1.3 billion five-year infrastructure investment programme will create a vast demand for skilled workers. The workforce requirements will see various careers created such as software designers and engineers, digital specialists, transport planning and design, construction and maintenance as well as daily operations. It is anticipated that if retained by the West Midlands the estimated number of jobs would reach 60,000 by 2035 and would bring over £1.7 billion of social value to the region. 

The Transport Skills Academy is currently offering relevant work experience, training and apprenticeship opportunities and also aims to provide new opportunities and schemes which will support the closing of the skills gap as employment demands are met.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “A key part of my mayoral mission is to ensure that young people right across our region can access high-quality and well-paid job opportunities. The sheer scale of transport infrastructure projects underway here is quite remarkable and will unlock new employment avenues for local residents.

“Whether it’s HS2 – under construction and already employing 7,000 people – or the unprecedented investment into our transport system over the next decade – including new railway stations, tram lines, bus services and cycle routes – there is a lot to get involved with.

“Our region has already made great progress in providing pathways into the transport workforce – for example through the Rail Training Centre at the City of Wolverhampton College and the electric vehicle training centre in Walsall. Now this new Transport Skills Academy will enable us – alongside our partners in the industry – to develop even more vital training schemes that help us to continue to make the most of our investment in transport.”

The ageing workforce drives a large part of the requirement for new workers within the transport industry as 50% of the 41,783 Transport sector workers in the West Midlands region are over the age of 50 and close to retirement age. The current transport workforce only has 13% aged under 30 years represents and is therefore creating substantial opportunities for younger people in the area. Women and black and minority ethnic people are also under-represented in comparison with the West Midlands population within the current workforce.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “As well as the traditional roles in transport planning, design and construction, TfWM and its partners are also working on cutting-edge technology developing the low-carbon transport systems of the future.

“This includes electric battery technology, autonomous cars, smart ticketing systems and new transport modes like very light rail. These and further innovations could require jobs which don’t even exist yet.

“So, it is clear we will need a highly skilled and adaptable workforce to make the most of these opportunities and position the region as the home of the green transport revolution.

“And our Transport Skills Academy will set out to do just that.”