The Taxpayers Foundation, in the latest of a series of reports on the financial and operational status of the critical transportation system, said its analysis of MBTA payroll data, state demographics, and studies by both industry groups and nonprofits indicate daunting challenges for T efforts to boost its workforce.

“The MBTA is struggling to find the talent it needs to deliver full bus and rapid transit services today, let alone the expanded services being planned or proposed,” the study found. “Factoring in the length of time to qualify, hire and train new employees, these shortages are likely to persist, causing services to run less frequently than a year ago.”