SamTrans saw an uptick in bus operator applications during the first half of 2023. It’s a sign of encouragement for the San Mateo County Transit District as it works to fill critical positions that help the agency keep up with customer demand and plans for future service enhancements.
The district saw a total of 426 applications during the first six months of this year. By comparison, during the same six months of 2022, SamTrans saw almost half that number — just 215 applications.
The operator shortage doesn’t just affect the ability to keep current routes staffed, it also affects when the transit agency can launch additional phases of its Reimagine SamTrans plan. At a recent San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors Meeting, staff indicated that the district is excited to bring increased frequency and new routes to San Mateo County as soon as it can.
NEW HIRES
Raymudo Osio oversees the bus operator recruitment efforts for the district’s human resources department. He says despite the recent surge in applications, there’s still a constant need to add more new hires to the team, and the process is time consuming.
“Each recruitment cycle lasts about two months,” said Osio. “There are typically about 35 to 40 applicants heading into our paid training program, but due to drop-offs, various screenings and background checks, that number gets whittled down to about 15 people.”
Osio said the recruitment goal with each class is to graduate at least 11 of the 15 who enter the training, but safety standards are never compromised to meet that level.
The district is constantly looking at ways to increase its results for operator recruitment and retention. So far, the district has found recruitment success through outreach efforts at community events, an employee referral program, and advertising on local radio, billboards and at its own bus stops. SamTrans also offers retention incentives of up $4000 within the first year, the largest of any Bay Area transit agency.
ECONOMICS 101
It’s not just SamTrans. Transit agencies throughout the Bay Area have struggled in recent years to find enough qualified applicants to fill their open bus operator positions. The shortage has been brought on by several factors, some unique to the region.
This past May, San Mateo County had the lowest unemployment rate in California at 2.7%. Rates in surrounding Bay Area counties are also exceptionally low. Economic numbers like this often read as positive news, but for employers looking to fill open positions — especially at the rate SamTrans hires to replenish its operator pool — these statistics make for challenging times.
There could be some relief though as new numbers from the U.S. Labor Department show the high rate at which workers are voluntarily quitting their jobs over the past couple of years — known as the “Great Resignation” — has fallen sharply in recent months.
Osio hopes the recent uptick in applications and economic signs of employee stability will help with ongoing recruitment and retention efforts at the district. Plus, he believes being a bus operator is a rich career choice because of its public service aspect.
“We see a high rate of job satisfaction within our team,” said Osio. “It’s true, being a bus operator is not an easy job, but people find it very rewarding once they’ve been in the position for a while. The connections they make in the communities they serve are priceless.”