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A personal story with a wider lesson

The story of a Pakistani transport engineer who graduated in Rome and tried to find his place in the European labor market highlights a bigger issue – the gap between political declarations and real inclusivity in the transport sector. While education and skills should ease entry into the workforce, the path to a stable position proved to be full of obstacles.

On paper, EU and national programs have long emphasized the value of diversity. In practice, the barrier often lies in the lack of an organizational culture capable of integrating new perspectives into daily operations. Migrants frequently face not only limited access to positions but also subtle exclusion mechanisms – from language barriers to a lack of space for alternative viewpoints in decision-making processes.

Transport as a mirror of society

Transport is more than roads, railways, or logistics systems. It forms the foundation of economic and social mobility. Every city and country designing transport infrastructure is also shaping social space. If the sector is dominated by a homogeneous group of specialists, the risk of overlooking the real needs of many users rises sharply.

The impact is tangible. Migrants are often the first to spot problems like monolingual signage or apps that don’t cater to multiple cultures. Women and older passengers highlight safety concerns in crowded public transport. Diverse project teams could address these issues at the design stage, instead of reacting after public criticism arises.

Technology as a catalyst, not a cure-all

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and digital systems in transport offers hope for removing barriers. Algorithms can identify areas with limited access to public transport, real-time data can prevent overcrowding, and multilingual apps can make services more accessible.

Yet technology is not neutral. If developed by teams lacking diversity, it risks perpetuating bias. Even AI-based recruitment tools can unintentionally reinforce discrimination if they rely on historical inequalities. Including migrants and other minority groups in creating and testing solutions is therefore essential.

In 2023, Eurostat reported that employment among non-EU citizens aged 20–64 was 63%, compared with 76.2% for EU citizens. Unemployment was 12.2% for migrants versus 5.4% for EU nationals. These figures highlight structural barriers in labor market access and signal wasted potential, especially in sectors like transport and logistics. Underutilizing migrant skills can slow innovation and weaken Europe’s global competitiveness.

Migrants as bridges and innovators

Migrants bring more than technical expertise. Their cultural experiences and ability to navigate different worlds allow them to create solutions that are more universally effective. They are not just employees but “bridge-builders” – connecting communities, translating public policies into understandable language for diverse groups, and spotting gaps invisible to local decision-makers.

Integrating these perspectives is not charity – it is a strategy to improve service quality. Companies investing in diversity gain public trust and foster a collaborative culture. Transport, as a sector closely linked to citizens’ daily lives, benefits particularly strongly from this approach.

A concrete example is Transport for London, which invests systematically in equality and inclusion programs. This has increased employee engagement and led to more inclusive service design.

However, this approach is not yet widespread. In many countries, DEI initiatives remain secondary or symbolic. The critical question is how to scale best practices from individual cities to a Europe-wide level, where political and social differences are much deeper.

Diversity as an engine, not an obligation

Migrants’ experiences in the transport sector show that true inclusivity is not just about legal provisions or corporate strategies. It is primarily about organizational culture that values every voice.

Diversity should not be seen as a box to tick in reports but as a driver of innovation and a foundation for sustainable development. Only then can transport be not just technologically smart, but socially wise – meeting the needs of the entire community, not just a selected part of it.

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