Missouri Department of Transportation Overcomes Worker Shortage
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has been facing a severe shortage of workers for years, but recent efforts have paid off. From being short of a thousand employees, the department now has only 200 vacancies. MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna credited the increase in staff to a pay raise from the General Assembly.
Despite facing challenges in retaining employees and hiring new workers, MoDOT has managed to make progress. Over the last 14 months, the department has hired about 1,150 people, although about 800 have left. McKenna emphasized the importance of building the next generation of transportation workers to fill the gaps left by retiring staff.
While the MoDOT team has seen improvements in hiring, there is still a shortage of about 2 million labor hours, affecting critical tasks such as mowing, animal pickup, and sign replacement. State workers received an 8.7% pay raise last year, and this year they were approved for an additional 3.2% cost of living increase.
Despite challenges with seasonal workers and specific shortages in different parts of the state, McKenna praised the MoDOT team for completing hundreds of construction projects. The department has managed to keep up with the increased workload without adding staff, thanks to smart resource allocation and strategic planning. With a market-based compensation plan in place and ongoing efforts to attract and retain workers, MoDOT is on the path to overcoming its workforce shortage.
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