Job market information
Finding out about transport planning
The transport planning industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The passenger transport sector incorporates rail, aviation, bus and coach, taxi and private hire, light rail and metro, driver training, and UK waterways. The sector accounts for 735,000 jobs, most of which are within the bus and coach, taxi and private hire, rail, and aviation industries. The passenger transport sector includes a wide variety of roles, from pilots and transport planners, to essential support roles in finance, marketing and human resources.
The transport planning industry is responsible for developing ideas, solutions and plans to help travel and traffic movement around the UK. The industry is relatively small with a highly skilled workforce. There are a range of occupations within the industry from planning technician to transport planning consultant. Transport planners work in a range of organisations, including: government (central or local); specialised consultancies; and transport companies.
Key facts:
- There are around 12,000 people working in transport planning industry.
- 44% of the workforce is over 50 years of age.
- Entry to the industry requires a degree in a relevant subject, but plans to develop vocational qualifications are underway to offer an alternative route in.
- There is a shortage of town planners entering the industry.
Jobs in the industry include: planning technician, transport planner, planning consultant, senior consultant, administration, graphics/design worker.
Entry and progression
For entry level roles at planning technician level, employers require applicants to have a first degree. Degrees in subjects such as geography, civil engineering, environmental science or statistics are usually preferred. Degrees in other disciplines are also acceptable, but the applicant has to prove that they have good numeracy and literacy skills as well as an interest in transport and the environment. It is relatively uncommon to recruit people without a degree unless they have built up considerable related experience.
Transport planners can be employed at several levels and there are opportunities for progression, from planning technician, to transport planner, to planning consultant and finally senior consultant. There are also a range of support roles, such as administration and graphics/design work. To work in transport planning, it is also important to have an understanding of transport policy, the environment and the economy.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses (both at undergraduate and post‐graduate), training schemes and vocational qualifications.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
12,000 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
1,000 |
|---|
| Gender: |
82% male |
18% female |
|---|
| Age: |
17% of the workforce is under 30 years |
|---|
| 44% is over 50 years |
Employment trends and future prospects
There are no data available on employment trends in the industry.
Skill requirements and shortages
The main skills gaps in the industry are:
- Management and leadership (36% of companies)
- Foreign languages (20%)
The skills most valued by the industry include: communication (interpersonal liaison and public presentation skills); statistical analysis; organisational and project management skills; information technology; and team working.
Occupational trends
The transport planning industry is experiencing a shortage in transport planners. The demand for new transport planners is an estimated 600 per year. However, there are only an estimated 100 to 150 entering the industry every year. There are difficulties in recruiting to the industry, largely due to the graduate nature of recruitment practices.
National and regional data
[N.B. Regional data presented are for the passenger transport sector as a whole. Data derived from the Labour Force Survey, 2007.]
East Midlands – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 14% of the workforce in the region is female. 14% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 62% is 26‐49 years and 32% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; Welsh language; job related IT; and safety/accident management.
East of England – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 25% of the workforce in the region is female. 9% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 7% of the workforce is under 25 years, 52% is 26‐49 years and 41% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; job related IT; Welsh language; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
London – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 20% of the workforce in the region is female. 42% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 4% of the workforce is under 25 years, 70% is 26‐49 years and 26% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; foreign languages; safety/accident management; booking operations; and logistics and scheduling of services.
North East – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 17% of the workforce in the region is female. 3% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 51% is 26‐49 years and 41% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; Welsh language; and safety/accident management.
North West – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 16% of the workforce in the region is female. 14% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 61% is 26‐49 years and 33% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; disability awareness; Welsh language; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
South East – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 25% of the workforce in the region is female. 11% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 48% is 26‐49 years and 36% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; and job related IT.
South West – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 19% of the workforce in the region is female. 4% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 4% of the workforce is under 25 years, 56% is 26‐49 years and 40% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; job related IT; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
West Midlands – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 19% of the workforce in the region is female. 27% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 7% of the workforce is under 25 years, 65% is 26‐49 years and 28% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; safety/accident management; foreign languages; maths/working with numbers; and disability awareness.
Yorkshire and the Humber – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 13% of the workforce in the region is female. 18% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 62% is 26‐49 years and 30% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; job related IT; and Welsh language.
Northern Ireland – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 21% of the workforce in the region is female. Data are unavailable on the ethnicity of the workforce. 9% of the workforce is under 25 years, 74% is 26‐49 years and 17% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; safety/accident management; job related IT; and disability awareness.
Scotland – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 16% of the workforce in the region is female. 2% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 56% is 26‐49 years and 36% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; and disability awareness.
Wales – In the passenger transport sector as whole, 18% of the workforce in the region is female. 4% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 54% is 26‐49 years and 38% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: Welsh language; foreign languages; disability awareness; safety/accident management; job related IT; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.
Salary levels
Pay scales in this industry are variable, so the following only provides an indication of the average weekly gross pay of the current workforce:
- Civil Engineering Technician £515
- Town Planning Technician £506
- Town Planner £698
- Civil Engineer £728
- Chartered Surveyor £708
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using GoSkills AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
