Preparing Europe's workforce for automated mobility with the ReSKILLING project
As Europe moves towards more connected and automated mobility, the changes will go far beyond the vehicles themselves. An automated shuttle may no longer need someone at the wheel, but it still needs people to monitor its operations, maintain its systems and help passengers when things go wrong.
For the people working in transport, this could mean very different responsibilities in the years ahead. Some roles will evolve, others may emerge. But will workers have access to the training and support they need to adapt?
Launched in 2025, the EU-funded ReSKILLING project, with UITP among its 20 partners, is investigating how Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) will affect employment across Europe’s transport sector. Its research looks at changing occupations and skills requirements, alongside the wider economic and social consequences for workers and businesses.
Interested in getting involved? Find details of two upcoming ReSKILLING workshops and how to join the project’s stakeholder community at the end of this article.
How will transport jobs change?
The project’s findings so far suggest that automation is not simply a question of jobs being created or lost. Many existing occupations are expected to remain, but the work involved will change.
Drivers may take on supervisory responsibilities, maintenance teams will increasingly work with digital systems, and transport operations will require new combinations of technical knowledge and human judgement.
To understand these changes, ReSKILLING has mapped 110 job profiles into 33 functional job families across the CCAM sector. It has also developed a skills taxonomy, identifying the competencies required for different roles today and how these may change as automation advances.
The research points to growing demand for skills in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analysis and system maintenance. But communication, problem-solving and adaptability remain essential, particularly for people working in operations and passenger services.
Another challenge is that conventional and automated systems are likely to operate alongside each other for some time. During this transition, workers may need to understand both existing operations and new technologies.
ReSKILLING is also examining the short-, medium- and long-term employment and socioeconomic effects of CCAM, including how these may differ between European regions, occupations and workforce groups.
Not everyone will find it equally easy to adapt. Older workers, people with limited digital skills and those in precarious employment may face greater difficulties accessing training or moving into new roles. Without appropriate support, automation could widen existing inequalities in the labour market.
There is also the question of acceptance. In her article for Open Access Government, project coordinator Matina Loukea discusses the importance of public trust and workforce acceptance. Workers who see automation primarily as a threat to their jobs may be reluctant to embrace it. Clear opportunities for reskilling, upskilling and career development can help change that perception.
Identifying skills gaps is only part of the challenge
Knowing which skills will be needed is one thing. Making it possible for workers to acquire them is another.
ReSKILLING is bringing together employers, workers, policymakers, training providers and other stakeholders to discuss its findings and explore how different people and organisations can prepare for automation.
During a workshop in Brussels, participants explored four possible scenarios for automated mobility, examining how government policies, corporate influence and investment decisions could affect job security and opportunities for retraining.
An online workshop brought the discussion closer to workers’ everyday circumstances. Participants identified obstacles such as language barriers, age discrimination, limited access to training and low confidence with digital technologies.
The findings highlight why training cannot follow a single approach. Needs will differ between professions, organisations and regions, and workers will not all have the same opportunities to acquire new skills. Employers and training providers will need to account for those differences when developing reskilling and upskilling programmes.
Preparing the sector
ReSKILLING is using this research and stakeholder feedback to develop reskilling and upskilling pathways, training resources and policy recommendations for employers, education providers and decision-makers.
Rather than focusing only on the technical requirements of automation, the project is also exploring opportunities for social innovation: how workers, businesses and public authorities can work together to develop employment opportunities and support people through the transition.
UITP is developing two use cases examining how automation could affect staff, responsibilities and skills in two public transport environments: bus depots and tram operations.
One of the project’s resources is already available in its first operational version. The CCAM Employment & Skills Observatory brings together research on changing occupations, emerging roles and skills requirements. It includes an AI-powered search tool to help transport organisations, policymakers and training providers explore the evidence and better understand future workforce needs.
Have your say & get involved with ReSKILLING
There are two opportunities to contribute to the project’s work in the coming weeks!
- 18 November 2026 | Online ReSKILLING Toolkit Workshop
ReSKILLING will introduce its new toolkit to help public transport operators and authorities assess how automation could affect individual jobs, identify skills needs and develop workforce plans. The online workshop will also cover business model development for start-ups and SMEs.
Find out more - 1 December 2026 | ReSKILLING side event at UITP HQ, Brussels
This interactive workshop will bring together local and regional authorities, transport stakeholders and project partners to exchange experiences and explore practical approaches to CCAM deployment. Discussions will focus on public needs, workforce development and new business opportunities, with participants working together to identify possible next steps.
This is a side event of the POLIS Conference – participation is free, and registration for the POLIS Conference is not required.
Find out more
As ReSKILLING moves forward, the focus is on turning its research and stakeholder discussions into practical training opportunities, tools and policy recommendations. By working with transport employers, workers and public authorities, the project aims to help the sector prepare for automation while ensuring that people with different skills, backgrounds and circumstances have opportunities to benefit from the transition.
Want to contribute to this work? Join the ReSKILLING Stakeholder Community.