A Guide to Careers in Government for Transportation Policy Enthusiasts
Transportation policies keep the country functioning in many ways. Solid infrastructure helps ensure essential supply chains keep moving and that individuals can easily continue their day-to-day activities.
If you have an enthusiasm for transportation policy, seeking a career in government can be enriching. It may give you the chance to be a key part of systems that make a tangible difference to the economy and the environment. That said, it can be difficult to know quite what types of roles are relevant to transportation policy.
We’re going to explore some of the careers worth considering and why you might find this path both viable and rewarding.
What is the Outlook for Transport Policy Jobs?
Having an enthusiasm for transportation policy can feel like quite a niche area of interest. So, it’s worth examining why this can be a viable focus for your long-term career goals.
Firstly, what are the likely industries you’ll focus on for these types of jobs? Some key areas include:
Logistics and shipping
The logistics and shipping industry is often most immediately affected by transport policy. Government jobs in this sector can see you interacting with key leaders and helping to address their concerns and challenges.
Urban and city planning
For transport policy to take hold, it’s usually essentially that well-designed city and urban infrastructure is in place. Therefore, seeking government jobs in this area allows you to plan solutions that mesh well with upcoming policy changes.
Environmental protection
Increasingly, transport policy is addressing environmental concerns. Therefore you may want to work with organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state-based agencies. This can see you contributing to putting the planet first in transport-related decision-making.
There isn’t much information about job outlook from the usual sources, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, there are other aspects that help to demonstrate why government jobs that involve transport policy could be a solid choice right now.
Firstly, it’s increasingly clear that the government must encourage the adoption of greener vehicles. One of the ways it has approached this recently is by providing federal tax credits for the purchase of electric cars. This program helps to make electric cars more affordable for both individuals and businesses. In the future, there may be a demand for professionals to design and maintain such schemes to keep them relevant to changing needs.
Alongside environmental issues, automated vehicles are an emerging point of policy focus. Government policy is playing catch-up to ensure legislation and infrastructure are in place to address the challenges here. Professionals with an understanding of this subject and can contribute to solutions are likely to be in demand.
Gathering and Utilizing Data
So, what types of careers are likely to mesh well with transportation policy enthusiasts? Well, one of the main areas to look at are jobs related to collecting, interpreting, and disseminating data. It’s wise to look at some of the career paths that put you in a position to gather and use information that influences transportation policy.
Some of these could include:
- Statistician: Various government transportation departments hire a range of statisticians. This is a career that sees you directly tasked with conducting surveys and interpreting the results in ways that help departments make decisions. You could also specialize in relevant areas of statistics, including spatial statistics. This may see you interacting with data related to how transportation policy affects specific locations.
- Economist: Data related to the economy is central to transportation policy. Economists gather and analyze data not just on what government funding needs to provide but also how transportation policies could impact the economy. Again, there are opportunities for specialization here. For instance, equity economists produce studies that help government departments understand how their transportation decisions influence economic inequalities.
For transport policy to take hold, it’s usually essentially that well-designed city and urban infrastructure is in place.
These are technical positions that tend to benefit from a combination of analytical knowledge and practical experience. The good news is that the Bureau of Transportation often lists internships related to these types of positions. Wherever possible, apply for these as early as possible, preferably when you’re still studying. Not only can you make invaluable contacts, but you can also gain a better understanding of the innovative ways data is used to impact policy.
Collaborating with Industries
One of the key roles of government transportation departments is to collaborate with industries and individual businesses. This helps to ensure policies are sustainable, fair, and — ultimately — embraced. You may find that careers that see you contribute to the process are aligned with your skills and enthusiasm for transportation policy.
These could include:
- Grants manager: Providing grants to projects is one of the most direct ways of enabling industries to embrace transportation policies related to change. This role involves assessing applications and supporting industry figures and businesses through the application process.
- Technical writer: Skilled technical writers are tasked with providing industries with detailed information on practical measures to adapt to policies. For instance, you might collaborate on ensuring electric vehicle producers can use smart manufacturing tools to efficiently respond to industry changes. You could highlight how sensors in the Internet of Things (IoT) combined with data analytics tools can both help manufacturers maintain high vehicle safety and green standards while boosting their bottom line.
These types of careers tend to greatly benefit not just from technical know-how but also transferable skills. This is because these careers rely on maintaining contacts and being able to understand the priorities of all parties involved with collaborations. It is, therefore, in your best interests to develop skills in areas such as empathetic communication, conflict resolution, and creative problem-solving.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career related to transportation policy can be personally and professionally enriching. It’s worth identifying a role that best fits what type of interactions you want to have on policy. Remember, though, that your career choices may not simply see you responding to policy. On your journey, look out for the opportunities that enable you to influence policy in meaningful ways, too.
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