The IRU report is more than just a wake-up call, it is a call to action for an industry that is the lifeblood of both metropolitan and rural communities.
The severe shortage of bus and coach drivers is not going unnoticed and is casting a shadow over the mobility sector, the effects of which are resonating from local communities to international economies. A recent report from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) shows that the chronic problem is worsening and disrupting not only passenger transport operations worldwide, but also the communities and economies that depend on them.
The report, titled “Driver Shortage Report Passenger – Europe 2023,” is the result of an extensive survey conducted between February and April 2023. Nearly 290 bus and coach companies from seven European countries provided their input, painting an alarming picture. The results clearly show that part of the problem lies in the lack of a diverse workforce. Less than 16% of bus and coach drivers are women, only 5% are non-EU nationals, and a meager 3% are under 25 years of age.
For many countries, the current figures are far from satisfactory. For example, France has the highest percentage of female drivers, 25%, which is still below the general transport sector benchmark of 22%. At the other end of the spectrum we find the Czech Republic, with a paltry 8% of female drivers. This is all the more remarkable given that women hold 24% of total transport jobs there.
young people
CBS reports growing unemployment among young people, and that offers opportunities for the sector. According to Statistics Netherlands, unemployment in the Netherlands has risen for the fifth consecutive month. At the same time, the IRU report shows that the Netherlands has relatively many young bus and coach drivers compared to other European countries. No less than 6% of drivers in this sector are younger than 25 years old. That is double the European average of 3%, but still considerably lower than the share of young people in the general working population of the Netherlands, which is 16%.
The stigma surrounding the bus and coach driving profession can be a deterrent to potential young candidates and women.
Not only is there a lack of gender diversity, but there is also an urgent need to balance the age distribution. At a time when Europe is facing an aging working population, there is an acute shortage of young drivers. The Netherlands takes the cake with a relatively high percentage of 6% of young drivers, but even this figure lags behind the share of young people in the transport sector (9%) and the general working population (16%). Italy has a disappointingly low number of drivers under the age of 25, just 1%.
Moreover, IRU indicates that the aging of drivers leads to an impending problem: retirement. It is assumed that drivers over 55 have the same age distribution as the total working population and that most retire at age 65. Added to this is the continued growth in demand for passenger road transport services, which is increasing at the same rate as the growth in passenger revenues from ground transport.
IRU's report not only raises awareness but also acts as a catalyst for change by identifying existing barriers to attracting and retaining drivers. It highlights the actions and best practices needed and is shared with members and bus and coach companies in an effort to find concrete solutions. As the representative of more than 3,5 million companies in the mobility and logistics sector in more than 100 countries, IRU's work is crucial to addressing this growing crisis.
