The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) announced findings from its latest research, Promoting Interest in Transportation Careers Among Young Women.

The study developed and tested a college-level educational intervention that uses pro-environmental framing and exposure to female transportation role models to help interest more young women to the industry.

According to MTI, approximately 14% of the transportation workforce are women.

The key findings of the research include:

• Female students who completed the climate change course that included the one-class transportation module were more open to working in a transportation career by the end of the semester (17.5% increase) compared to the control group. 

• All students who were exposed to the transportation module better understood (39.7% increase) that the transportation industry can provide a green and sustainable career.

The components of the learning module included pro-environmental framing of the transportation industry and video lectures from women transportation professionals.

“Students visited the Careers for Change website to watch videos of three of the featured transportation professionals and view the articles accompanying each professional," said the study's authors. "We designed the website, which includes 5–8 minute interviews with transportation professionals like Dr. Beverly Scott and Dr. Hilary Nixon to highlight the diverse career paths that align with green and sustainable careers."

Related: MTI Research Examines Equity Implications of Off-Site Mitigation Strategies