From Utility to Identity: Why Transit Uniforms Are a Workforce Strategy

BY BRYAN JINNETT

The transit industry's hiring challenge is well documented — and it isn't getting easier. According to APTA's Transit Workforce Shortage Study, 96 percent of agencies surveyed reported experiencing a workforce shortage, with 84 percent saying it is affecting their ability to provide service. Meanwhile, nearly 43 percent of the transit workforce is nearing retirement age, creating a massive loss of experience and institutional knowledge at the very moment agencies need to bring in new talent.  

Agencies are responding by modernizing fleets, upgrading technology, and rethinking the rider experience. But there's one lever that often gets overlooked: the uniform. 

The Workforce Has Changed. Uniforms Haven't. 

New employees evaluate employers the same way they evaluate brands. They notice whether an organization feels modern or stuck in the past. They pay attention to fit, comfort, and design. When a uniform feels like an afterthought, it sends a message — one that has nothing to do with fabric and everything to do with culture. 

Transit agencies are already competing directly with employers like Uber, Amazon, and FedEx — companies that have invested heavily in employee experience. And the numbers show it's affecting outcomes: applicants are rejecting transit job offers 35 percent of the time, more than twice the rate for jobs across all industries.  

Every touchpoint matters. Uniforms are one of them. 

One Partner. Every Piece of the Program. 

Most agencies piece together their uniform programs from multiple vendors — one for design, another for manufacturing, a third for fulfillment. That fragmentation creates delays, inconsistencies, and administrative headaches. 

JWE is built differently. As a designer, manufacturer, and supplier under one roof, we control the entire process from concept to closet. There's no handoff between a design firm and a factory. No gap between what was specified and what gets produced. 

We build custom programs around each agency — your brand, your workforce, your environment. Every garment is engineered for real-world performance: four-way stretch fabrics, expandable waistbands, and collars that hold their shape across a long shift. Because we handle design, manufacturing, and supply ourselves, we move faster, maintain tighter quality control, and deliver a more cohesive result than a patchwork of vendors ever could. 

Program Management That Actually Works 

Getting the uniform right is only half the equation. Managing it at scale is where many programs fall apart. 

JWE's modern, web-based program management portals give agencies a centralized way to administer uniforms across the entire workforce. Employees log in, select their items, and manage their wardrobe through a simple online experience. Agencies set individual allowances or allotments, track usage, control budgets, and manage approvals — all in one place. 

No spreadsheets. No manual requisitions. No chasing down orders. Just a clean, efficient system that saves time for HR teams and creates a better experience for employees from day one. 

Sustainability Built In 

Today's workforce expects employers to take environmental responsibility seriously, and uniform programs are a real opportunity to deliver on that. Because JWE manages the full program lifecycle, we build smarter from the start — fabrics engineered for extended wear, inventory planning that reduces waste, and a long-term focus on circular lifecycle strategies. 

It's an approach that supports agency sustainability goals while resonating with employees who want to work for organizations that share their values. 

Modernization Should Include the People Wearing the Uniform 

Transit authorities are investing billions in electrified fleets, digital infrastructure, and improved rider experience. Uniforms should be part of that evolution. They're one of the most visible representations of an organization — seen daily by employees and riders alike — and they shape how employees perceive their role within it. 

APTA's own research clearly frames the stakes: the central question facing the industry is how to attract and retain next-generation talent while balancing innovation with the needs of customers, boards, and communities. A well-designed, well-managed uniform program is one tangible answer.  

With JWE, agencies don't have to choose between great design, quality manufacturing, and seamless program management. You get all three from a single partner invested in the outcome from start to finish. 

That's the shift from utility to identity. And it's one worth making. 

Source: APTA Workforce Issues — apta.com/industry-issues/workforce-issues