The Straits Times reported that The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is offering jobs for job seekers with an engineering background. The authority has even hired a branding and marketing consultant to convince people that the land transport sector provides attractive career choices.

The unprecedented move is in anticipation of manpower needs on the back of a fast-expanding land transport network. It also aims to improve the industry's image which has been battered by a recent spate of breakdowns and project failures.

According to Ministry of Manpower statistics, land transport and support services employed 90,500 people as of the end of last year. This figure is expected to rise exponentially in the next 15 years when all the new rail lines are up and new bus contracts awarded.

However, the LTA may have to go further to win people over. Human Resources Consultant Alex Yew, a partner at Kyle & Associates, said, "I asked my son what would make him take up engineering and he says we need to make engineering hot again."

Mr. David Leong, Managing Director of recruitment firm PeopleWorldwide Consulting, said, "If you call for engineers to join an operator which may not have such good reputation now, there will be inertia. But given enough motivation, recognition and national focus - like how Ministry of Education recruits teachers or Ministry of Health recruits nurses - we can get the best minds to the problem."

The Straits Times understands the shortage has been worsened in the light of booming infrastructure developments in the region.