Dublin Bus Launches Campaign to Recruit More Women Drivers as Female Staff Remain Just 8% of Workforce
Dublin Bus has launched a targeted recruitment campaign aimed at significantly increasing the number of women in its driving workforce, which currently stands at just 8% female — a figure that the company acknowledges is far below where it should be. The campaign, announced on Tuesday, promotes flexible part-time roles designed to accommodate family, caring, and study commitments, and includes a series of open days in August and September 2026 at which prospective candidates can operate a training bus, tour the Central Control Centre, and speak with current female drivers about their experiences.
Background
Dublin Bus is one of Ireland's largest employers, operating a fleet of more than 1,000 buses across the greater Dublin area and carrying millions of passengers every year. The company has been working to modernise its operations and its workforce in recent years, investing in new vehicles, new technology, and new approaches to customer service. But the gender composition of its driving workforce has remained stubbornly skewed toward men, with women accounting for just 8% of drivers despite making up a much larger proportion of the overall workforce in many other roles.
The underrepresentation of women in bus driving is not unique to Dublin Bus — it is a pattern seen across public transport operators in Ireland and internationally. The reasons are complex and include historical perceptions of bus driving as a male-dominated profession, the physical demands of the role, the shift patterns involved, and the lack of visible female role models in the industry. Dublin Bus's campaign is an attempt to address these barriers directly and to make the profession more accessible and attractive to women.
The campaign comes at a time when Dublin Bus is actively recruiting to expand its driver workforce, driven by the growth of the BusConnects network and the increasing demand for public transport services across the greater Dublin area. The company needs more drivers, and it has recognised that it is missing out on a significant pool of talent by failing to attract women to the profession.
Key Developments
The recruitment campaign focuses specifically on flexible, part-time roles that require a minimum commitment of Sundays and one additional day per week. This approach is designed to make bus driving accessible to women who have family or caring responsibilities that make full-time shift work impractical. The flexibility of the role is a genuine differentiator from many other employment options, and Dublin Bus is keen to communicate this clearly to potential applicants.
The open days, scheduled for 15 August, 5 September, and 26 September 2026, will allow prospective candidates to experience the role first-hand before committing to an application. Participants will have the opportunity to operate a training bus under the guidance of a professional instructor, tour the Central Control Centre, engage with current female drivers and inspectors, and learn about the recruitment process and employee benefits.
The starting hourly rate for bus drivers is €22.90, with a starting weekly salary of €893.06 for full-time positions, rising to €1,034.03 per week after six years of service. New recruits undergo a six-week training programme at the Dublin Bus Training Centre in Phibsboro, which includes D licence instruction, road safety training, and classroom-based modules on customer service, ticketing, and advanced driving standards. During training, recruits receive a weekly wage of €724.10.
Why It Matters
The underrepresentation of women in bus driving is both a workforce diversity issue and a practical problem for Dublin Bus. A more diverse workforce is generally a more effective and resilient one, and the perspectives and experiences that women bring to customer-facing roles in public transport are genuinely valuable. Research consistently shows that diverse teams make better decisions and are more responsive to the needs of diverse customer bases.
The campaign also has broader social significance. Bus driving is a skilled, well-paid profession that offers genuine career progression and job security. Making it more accessible to women — particularly women who need flexible working arrangements — is a meaningful contribution to gender equality in the Irish labour market. The starting salary of €22.90 per hour is significantly above the minimum wage and compares favourably with many other roles available to women without specialist qualifications.
The timing of the campaign is also significant. Dublin Bus is in the process of implementing the BusConnects network redesign, which will significantly expand the frequency and coverage of bus services across the greater Dublin area. This expansion will require a substantial increase in the number of drivers, and the company cannot afford to exclude half the potential workforce from consideration.
Local Impact
The campaign will be felt most directly in the communities served by Dublin Bus routes across the greater Dublin area, from Clondalkin and Tallaght in the south-west to Blanchardstown and Finglas in the north-west, and from Dún Laoghaire and Stillorgan in the south to Swords and Malahide in the north. A more diverse driving workforce will bring different perspectives and experiences to the delivery of public transport services, potentially improving the experience for passengers from a wide range of backgrounds. The open days at the Dublin Bus Training Centre in Phibsboro will be accessible to women from across the city and county.
What's Next
The first open day is scheduled for Saturday 15 August 2026, with further events on 5 September and 26 September. Interested candidates can register through the official Dublin Bus website. The company has indicated that it will monitor the response to the campaign and consider further initiatives if the initial results are positive. Dublin Bus has set a target of significantly increasing the proportion of female drivers in its workforce over the next three years.
