A gender-based analysis of workforce promotion factors in U.S. transportation agencies

The gender-based factors that impact job promotions in various engineering fields have not been widely studied. In this study, a descriptive analysis was performed on the employees of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) from 2011 to 2017 to determine the factors, including education, age, and years of service, that make men and women eligible for a promotion. The results indicated that women are elevated to high-level positions less often than men, primarily because of their lower level of education, age, and fewer years in service. The results of this study will provide guidance and assistance to DOT managers as they develop policies that motivate women to become eligible for higher level positions and will assist employers in private and public engineering organizations as they move toward a more gender-diverse working environment.