The transport planning industry includes all transport planners and supporting staff. Their work includes planning transport schemes, infrastructure management, traffic modelling and research into passenger densities.  There is a difficulty in getting data on workforce so data on members of the Transport Planners Society (TPS) are used as a proxy for employees in the industry.

There is an estimated 12,000 transport planners working in the UK, the majority of whom work within London and the South East.  Just over half of employment is in the private sector; the rest is in the public sector, predominantly in local authorities.  Replacement demand is an estimated 600-900 per year for transport planners.

Workforce statistics:

• 3% of the workforce are 25 years or under
• 14% are 25-29 years, 23% are 30-39 years, 17% are 40-49 years
• 44% of the workforce is over the age of 50
• 18% of the workforce is female
• 90% are qualified to at least degree level (N/SVQ Level 4)

Transport planning is primarily a graduate occupation and degrees can be obtained from several UK universities.  The most common degree areas are Geography and Civil Engineering.  Currently no Further Education provision exists for the industry.

Skills gaps are reported for presentation skills, good mathematical skills and un understanding of transport policy.

Source: Data from GoSkills 2007, LMI Industry fact sheets 2006 and GoSkills Skills Needs Assessment (stage 1) sector summary 2006a