Prairie State Wire

A new initiative has been launched by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to attract and retain civil engineering talent. The Intern to Hire program is designed to help college interns transition into full-time roles at the agency after graduation, addressing a shortage of civil engineers across the industry.

“We’re excited for young people to take advantage of this innovative program to help them move from college internship to full-time employment at IDOT, while helping us get more work out on the street more efficiently,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “IDOT also will benefit by retaining the interns we’ve already spent time training, allow us to build a staff that sees the department as a place to grow.”

The program offers participants the chance to join IDOT’s team of 1,000 civil engineers and contribute to infrastructure projects throughout Illinois. These efforts are supported by Gov. JB Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, which was enacted in 2019 and provides $33.2 billion over six years for transportation improvements statewide. This investment, combined with significant federal infrastructure funding introduced in 2021, has increased demand for qualified civil engineers.

Industry data from the American Council of Engineering Companies indicates that there is a need for 82,000 engineers and related professionals nationwide in order to support ongoing infrastructure development and maintenance.

IDOT’s rotation program allows new civil engineers exposure to various areas within their field, providing cross-training opportunities intended to encourage long-term careers at the department.

“We have been very successful with previous engineering co-op programs at IDOT. The new Intern to Hire Program takes this idea to the next level,” said Lora Rensing, IDOT’s chief engineer and director of the Office of Highways Project Implementation. “We look forward to mentoring talented engineering students and giving them a path to become the future generation of transportation professionals and leaders at IDOT.”

The initial phase includes 63 openings for civil engineers throughout Illinois, with plans for future expansion into other roles.

To qualify for full-time employment through this pathway, students must be set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited institution and complete an internship at IDOT lasting between six and sixty months. Those who meet these criteria will move from intern status into trainee positions within IDOT.

For further details about this initiative, interested parties are encouraged to contact DOT.Recruitment@illinois.gov.