Empathy Affect
On Empathy Affect, we explore the human side of government. We get to know the real people in government who serve us. We learn about their missions, the people they serve, and the true impact of their work. In each episode, we'll speak with real people about how they weave empathy into the policies and programs of government.
Empathy Affect
S4E4: Who Will Run the Roads? The AI and Workforce Challenges Facing State Transportation
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What happens when the people who keep America moving start disappearing faster than we can replace them? Across the country, state transportation agencies are facing a workforce crisis that's been quietly building for years—and most of us have no idea it's happening.
This episode of Empathy Affect pulls back the curtain on one of the most underreported challenges in public infrastructure: not the roads themselves, but the people behind them. From knowledge transfer and AI adoption to career pipelines and organizational culture, this conversation is something bigger than transportation. It’s about what it takes for any public institution to hold onto what it knows and build toward what’s next.
Lorri Economy has served as the Utah Department of Transportation chief learning officer since 2014. She previously served the state's Department of Workforce Services.
Amanda Holland is the principal owner of Holland Enterprise Resource Solutions. She previously worked for the State of Alaska for more than 20 years and advises organizations in building resilience, workforce capacity, and effectiveness.
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