The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has industry-specific data going back more than 70 years. In 1947, there were more than 1.5 million people employed in the railroad industry but over the subsequent decades, that number has slid downward. For the past 25 years, the number of people employed in the industry has bounced around from 210,000 to 250,000, usually responding to various economic issues. In 2002, during an economic downturn, the number of railroaders bottomed out at about 214,000. A decade later, following the 2008 financial crisis, the number bottomed out at about 210,000. However, as the economy improved, so too did railroad employment.
An analysis of the data also shows an annual fluctuation in employment, usually tied to seasonal traffic swings.
But since 2015, the number of railroaders in the U.S. has dramatically slid downward thanks in large part to declines in traffic and the Class I railroads’ embrace of Precision Scheduled Railroading.
In January 2015, there were 245,800 people employed by railroads in the U.S. A year later, in January 2016, that number had slid to 221,700 and in January 2017, it was down to 217,000.
But data for 2019 that was recently made available by the government agencies shows one of the biggest declines yet. In January 2019, there were 215,400 railroaders in the U.S. but that dropped more than 15,000 in eight months when in September the number slipped below 200,000. Preliminary data from November 2019, shows that 195,800 people were employed by the industry, the lowest ever recorded by the bureau.
Data about the trucking industry shows a different story during the same period. According to the bureau, in November 2016, there were 1.45 million people employed in trucking. Three years later, in November 2019, that number had jumped up to 1.51 million.
The bureau gathers current employment statistics through monthly payroll surveys.
There is IGIVE.COM.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation receives about $1,800.
You cannot compete against a government subsidized enterprise. Trucks cause 90 – 95% of the road damage due to their heavy weight but pay less than 45% of the highway trust fund taxes. Even truckers’ association want higher diesel taxes to help maintain the roads.
So employment has dropped 50,000 in 4 years. Is that by itself not a wake up call?
Crime doesn’t pay. Neither does trucking.
Are commuter authority employees included in the count? They were part of regular operations in 1947.
There is RPA.
Who is saying move on?
No meltdown expected at Railroad Retirement.
Noel. Do you not read Trains Newswire? RR’s get government handouts every week.
Anna is that why the police treat the average truck driver like a criminal?
As I’ve said before, take what I say with a grain of salt. I’m just a worn out truck driver.
Oh yes it is easy to become a truck driver. Many of the companies even have training programs to bring people in to be drivers. 6 weeks and boom you have a CDL. Now how many have the mental wherewithal to manage a vehicle that can weigh up to 40 tons, is up to 70 feet long and is 13 1/2 feet tall. Keep up with various state regulations, the CFR for commercial trucks, manage up 20 tons of cargo, etc, etc.
China steel want US coal.
A successful Charity Search Engine
MSN: US coal consumption collapse
AMAZON customer know AMAZONSMILE
And our trust fund taxes are decades behind where they should be.