Stepping Ahead in Transport: A Look at Career Shifts in German Bus and Train Driving
Majority of transportation workers, such as bus and train drivers, opt for a career switch. - Many drivers of buses and trams often work for multiple transport companies.
Germany's transport sector is witnessing a boom of career changers, with nearly 54% of the approximately 140,000 bus and train drivers coming from other professions, a recent industry survey suggests. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and digital consultancy Nexum found that only around 46% of drivers had received their initial training in the transport sector.
"Halfway House: Career Swap Central," it's clear we need a revamp in recruitment, onboarding, and training processes for this unique workforce segment. Especially for the younger generation, digital outreach and a modern corporate culture hold significant weight. Simplifying licensing procedures and easing language requirements could also draw more talent.
Driver Shortage: A Ticking Time Bomb
The transport sector is grappling with a driver shortage, with a gap of around 20,000 drivers, as 6,000 retire each year solely from bus and tram services.
The image of these professions leaves much to be desired. The survey found more than half of the respondents perceived the job as "rather negative" or even "very negative." Employees feel underappreciated and disrespected by passengers, and complain about challenging work hours and poor pay.
VDV emphasizes the need for collaboration with authorities and fostering a culture of appreciation within companies to tackle these issues. The survey conducted between November 2024 and January 2025 involved more than 1,400 transport employees.
Time to Roll Out the Red Carpet for Career Changers
While specific measures to attract career changers in Germany are limited, broader trends offer valuable insights:
- Shortage of Drivers: Germany faces a daunting driver shortage, with around 20,000 vacancies and a forecasted shortage of 65,000 drivers by 2030[4].
- Professional Appeal: The profession is less appealing due to factors such as trying shifts, low pay, and high stress[4]. Improving work conditions, compensation, and work-life balance can make the job more attractive.
- Economic and Social Factors: The average salary for drivers in Germany is roughly €3,200[4]. Boosting compensation and work-life balance can draw more career changers.
- Training and Incentives: Implementing training programs with incentives, promoting flexible scheduling, and better work-life balance could make the job more appealing.
Is it time to rebrand bus and train driving professions? A shift in perception could go a long way in attracting more career changers. Strategies that work elsewhere, such as lowering the age to become a train driver to 18 in the UK, could also be applies in Germany. But hey, it's all about tailoring solutions to our local challenges and culture!
- To combat the expected shortage of 65,000 drivers by 2030, it might be beneficial to employ more individuals from various professional backgrounds through community policy changes that encourage vocational training in the transport industry.
- As the transport sector grapples with low perceived appeal due to factors like challenging work hours, low pay, and high stress, a community policy could be introduced to improve work conditions, compensation, and work-life balance for career changers.
- To attract more career changers, financial incentives could be introduced as part of vocational training programs in the transport sector, thereby making it a more viable career option with a better work-life balance.
