Program Goal / Need:
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, US Department of Transportation created an initiative that seeks greater inclusion of women in the field of transportation within the Asian Pacific Region. The DOT in collaboration with the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) wanted to examine the barriers and the opportunities for the inclusion of women’s participation at all levels in both the public and private sectors within the transportation sector. The initiative also served as a platform for the participating APEC economies to collaborate on ways to enhance recruitment, retention and promotion of women in the transportation sector.

Program Description:
The Women in Transportation Project took place both domestically and internationally. SCP gathered data and input from the APEC government, gender experts, private sector, academia and other stakeholders that helped to identify the existing strategies and approaches of each economy to enhance the accessibility and equity of women in transportation in order to increase the participation and leadership status of the transportation sector worldwide.

Developing all available human capital through workforce planning is vital to enhancing the competitiveness of the transportation industry and supply chain performance. This is particularly true, as countries move to address the evolving transportation needs, challenges and opportunities of the global economy because transportation and mobility are central to sustainable development.

Program Results:

• In a thorough desktop review, we identified and analyzed available data on the status of women’s participation in the transportation field in both the public and private sectors. The information analyzed helped to determine what the status of women in transportation, especially in leadership roles was currently within the 21 APEC economies.
• In field research interviews conducted in Malaysia, Vietnam and Mexico, SCP gathered information from the public and private sector with organization like the Ministries of Transport, Domestic Airline Companies, Transportation Focused Universities, and Private Corporations. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of the opportunities already available for women and where there could be areas for collaboration among APEC economies and stakeholders on ways to enhance recruitment, retention and promotion of women in the transportation sector.
• A final presentation was given in Japan 2013 at the APEC Transportation Working Group meeting to share our findings and best practices identified by our analysts during the country visits and field interviews.