The MBTA will host a job fair on Tuesday as the agency manages a severe staffing shortage that has had significant and sometimes frustrating effects on service.
Tuesday’s event will be on the UMass Dartmouth campus and is open to the general public. It is one of several recruitment events hosted by the agency to fill open roles. For event details, click here.
The Federal Transit Administration ordered the TA to rectify an ongoing staff shortage and safety concerns last year amid a series of ongoing problems. But getting to healthy work levels can be a challenge — a recent analysis found that the agency could start the next fiscal year 20 to 25% lower than needed — and there are thousands of jobs to be filled.
Staffing for all of these roles has been cited as one of the most important issues for new General Manager Philip Ing, who has committed to increasing staffing. Recent staff shortages have resulted in longer wait times and reduced T-service for passengers.
The agency offers various incentives for joining the team, including sign-on bonuses of up to $7,500 for certain positions:
- Bus operator
- Green Line Operator
- Heavy rail operator
- fuel
- service technician
- tram operator
- Subway operator
- Railway repairman
- path operator
Employees will need to stay with the agency for a certain amount of time to receive those bonuses.
For more information about working for the MBTA, click here.