Results of the CIVITAS European Urban Mobility Labour Market Research now out
Which skills and knowledge are needed by urban mobility professionals working at urban mobility planning authorities? This is the central question addressed in a recent CIVITAS report focussing on the urban mobility labour market in Europe. This report is the result of the European Urban Mobility Labour Market Research conducted under the CIVITAS Initiative.
Through the combination of a survey, interviews with CIVINETs and their stakeholders, a session with the CIVITAS Educational Network, consultation sessions with urban mobility professionals as well as desk research, valuable insights into the current state of this sector have been acquired; both general trends and those driven by the European Union impact urban mobility organisations, especially planning authorities, their modus operandi and the knowledge and skills that are necessary by professionals working in those organisations.
Gaps in critical urban mobility knowledge areas as well as specific skills for urban mobility professionals were identified. Among others, aspects such as variations in city size, the presence of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and gathered insights from managers were considered. According to the research, the highest priority topics, necessary for professionals to be prepared for the future, are behavioural change (how to influence the behaviour of mobility users), active mobility modes, and digitalisation. It was also found that the followings skills are the most important for future-proof professional in the domain of urban mobility: effective communication, cooperation with stakeholders and public participation and co-creation.
This research underscores the dynamic nature of the European urban mobility labour market. To thrive in this evolving field, it is crucial to address knowledge gaps, encourage the acquisition of necessary skills and support capacity-building initiatives. Capacity building efforts undertaken by CIVITAS MUSE will build on the results of this research and programme upcoming activities accordingly. The authors of this report would like to express their sincere gratitude to all interviewees (CIVINETs and their stakeholders), participants of the CIVITAS Educational Network session dedicated to this topic, participants of the consultation sessions as well as all survey respondents.
For more insights, read the Report on Insights into the EU Urban Mobility Labour Market.
Authors: Uli Lerche, Brechtje Walburgh Schmidt, Teije Gorris, Ekaterina Uzunova, Albert Solé Frexas
