Estimating Workforce Needs for High-Speed Rail in California and the United States

Abstract

This study assesses the overall impact of job creation associated with the anticipated construction of a high-speed rail (HSR) network in the United States, particularly in California, which was scheduled to begin construction as early as September 2012. Using variations of a bottom-up construction estimation technique, the study provides estimates of the quantity and type of workers needed during the design, construction, and operation of high-speed rail infrastructure, as well as education and training needs and level of this forecasted workforce. Given the high profile of state and national commitment to HSR initiatives, as well as its potential opportunity to generate employment, a comprehensive analysis that discusses the education, training, and attendant needs produced during the creation of HSR networks is timely. By using a refined bottom-up approach to estimate labor, education, and training needs required for the California HSR network, and with general application of this model across assessment of other corridors, this report seeks to identify the magnitude of workforce development challenges that lie ahead in the implementation of national HSR systems.