The report uses responses from our own surveying alongside trusted industry sources such as The National Skills Academy for Rail’s (NSAR) 2024 Rail Workforce Survey.
Here are some of our key findings – you can learn more in the full whitepaper, available here:
Key Challenges Facing Rail:
- • In 2024, the UK rail workforce totalled 220,500 – a 9.4% decline over the previous year
- • A third of the rail workforce is aged 50 or over, with up to 90,000 expected to leave the industry through retirement and other forms of attrition by 2030.
- • While the proportion of rail workers aged 25 or under rose to 6.3% in 2024 from 4.7% in 2023, the proportion aged 31-49 fell to 43.8% from 50% over the same period.
- • The industry remains male-dominated, with women accounting for only 17.4% of the UK rail labour force.
Top Priorities for UK Transport:
Tackling the Skills Shortage:- • Strengthening workforce planning with schools and colleges
- • Modernising working conditions and career pathways
- • Rebranding transport as a dynamic, future-focused industry
- • Launching targeted recruitment for under-represented groups
- • Promoting inclusive workplace cultures
- • Supporting diverse leadership through mentorship and structured career paths
- • Reskilling workers affected by automation
- • Integrating new tech with human oversight
- • Upgrading networks for sustainability and growth
- • Driving investment in digital, green and modern transport
- • Supporting franchising reforms with local authorities
- • Collaborating to bridge skills gaps and boost service delivery
Whether you’re in rail, bus, aviation or maritime, our Whitepaper is essential reading for anyone responsible for recruitment, workforce planning or organisational culture.
If you’d like to read the full Whitepaper, click here to get your free copy.