IST Summary of GAO Report on Automated Technologies: Department of Transportation Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee Safety
Background:
In response to a request from the House of Representative’s Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), released a report, Automated Technologies: DOT Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee Safety.
Key Takeaways:
Due to the rapid pace of technological advancement and large number of staff eligible to retire soon, it may be difficult for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to build a workforce with the expertise to ensure automated technologies are safe for consumers and communities.
To address these issues, the GAO made four recommendations that the Department of Transportation (DOT) should:
1. Assess skill gaps in key occupations involved in overseeing automated technologies.
2. Regularly measure the progress of strategies implemented to close skill gaps.
3. Identify all cybersecurity occupations across the agency and incorporate those related to overseeing the cybersecurity of automated technologies into its workforce planning efforts.
4. Collect and analyze information on the effectiveness of recruiting strategies in attracting staff to occupations that oversee the safety of automated technologies.
DOT agreed with three recommendations and partially concurred with one on measuring progress.