On 15 October 2025, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) hosted a high-level conference on “Young People and Transport Jobs: Making Transport Careers More Attractive” in Brussels. The event, supported by STRATEC and Panteia, brought together around 70 young people and 30 stakeholders from across Europe to discuss how to make transport professions more appealing, inclusive, and future-oriented.

The conference was opened by Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, who emphasised the urgent need to attract younger and more diverse talent to the transport sector. She underlined that while transport plays a crucial role in building a greener and smarter future, it still lacks visibility and appeal among young people.

The discussions that followed focused on how to better communicate the value and diversity of transport careers and how to make them more aligned with the expectations of today’s workforce across all modes of transport.

Representing EPF, Project Manager, Wandi Chivaura, took part in the event and moderated the interactive sessions focused on expectations and experiences of young people regarding employment in the rail sector. During the interactive sessions on the rail sector, young participants and industry representatives discussed practical ways to improve the attractiveness of transport careers and retain young professionals.

Key challenges identified included work-life balance, limited awareness of career opportunities, and salary levels. Participants noted that shift work, irregular hours, and a lack of flexibility can discourage young people from pursuing operational roles such as drivers, maintenance engineers, or onboard staff. They also highlighted the need for better promotion of career paths in transport, suggesting outreach through job fairs, school visits, and social media campaigns that use accessible and engaging language.

Broader topics discussed across the event included:

  • The image of the transport sector and its perceived ageing workforce.

  • Cost of training, licences and certifications.

  • Working conditions, safety and health at work.

  • Gender balance, diversity, and inclusion.

  • The impact of automation, digitalisation, and green transition on future skills.

  • Opportunities for career growth, mentoring, and mental health support.

Participants proposed a range of ideas, from storytelling and ambassador programmes to the creation of youth networks, mentoring schemes, and initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion particularly for women, LGBTQ+ people, and persons with disabilities.

The conference concluded with a dialogue between young people and Eric von Breska, Director of Investment, Innovative & Sustainable Transport at DG MOVE, focusing on visibility, career development, and skills for the green and digital transition. He highlighted ongoing European Commission initiatives supporting diversity, skills development, and clearer career pathways across all modes of transport.

As EPF, it was an opportunity to make sure the views of young people and the passenger perspective were part of the conversation. Engaging young people in the transport sector is essential not only to address skill shortages but also to build a more sustainable, accessible, and people-centred transport ecosystem.

A detailed conference report will be published by the European Commission soon.