It’s no secret that a massive worker shortage is hurting multiple industries in Colorado and around the country. In this state, while about 80% of the over 300,000 jobs lost in the start of the pandemic have returned, everywhere from restaurants to farms to sports stadiums are seeing holes in staffing.
One industry that hasn’t been spared is transportation. And it’s not just city buses and trains running with fewer routes and operators, but school buses. The Poudre School District, which covers areas including Fort Collins, Laporte and Timnath, is operating with significantly fewer drivers than previous years. And everyone from drivers to students and parents are feeling the impact.
PSD director of transportation, Jake Bell, and district school bus driver, Jessica Bard, joined Colorado Edition to talk about the impact of the worker shortage and possible solutions.
