On 15 October 2025, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) hosted a conference on 'Young people and transport jobs: making transport careers more attractive' in Brussels. The event brought together around 70 young people and 20 sector representatives from all modes of transport, and the Commission to explore career prospects and expectations for working in the sector, as well as successful practices to attract, support and retain young talent in the ever-evolving transport sector.
Lacking communication about transport jobs
Participants agreed that transport jobs offer great opportunities, but communication about them often misses young people. Industry efforts exist but do not always reach or engage young people effectively. The sector urgently needs young talent, making events like this crucial to connect new generations and the industry, which is eager to hear and respond to their needs.
In her opening statement, Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, emphasised the urgent need to attract younger and more diverse talent to the transport sector. Transport plays a crucial role in building a greener and smarter future, but currently faces a lack of visibility among young people. She encouraged an open dialogue during the conference to explore how to make transport careers more appealing, inclusive, and aligned with modern job expectations across all modes of transport.
Modernising the transport sector
Key takeaways of an interactive session with young people and human resources representatives include the need to modernise the transport sector's image by emphasising sustainability, diversity, as well as fair and flexible working conditions.
Participants also called for stronger promotion through positive storytelling, ambassador programmes, job fairs, and school outreach. Practical improvements such as enhanced security, language courses and vocational training, and better coordination among professionals were highlighted. Participants agreed that the ultimate goal is to raise public awareness of the sector's crucial role in society and its evolving, future-ready nature.
The conference concluded with a dialogue between young people and Eric von Breska, Director of Investment, Innovative & Sustainable Transport at DG MOVE. The discussion focused on key challenges young people face in the sector: visibility and attractiveness of transport jobs, entry points and career development, and skills for the green and digital transition. He explained the European Commission's initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, highlighting efforts to promote diversity, support skills development, and create clearer career pathways.
A detailed conference report will be published soon.
Source: European Commission