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Railroad industry employment has declined significantly in the United States
during recent decades. Factors contributing to this decline include increased
efficiency, industry consolidation, automation with new technologies, and
reduction in passenger and local freight service. Between the years of 1951 and 1972, industry employment declined by an
average of more than 40,000 jobs per year. The chart below shows annual railroad
industry employment since 1947. Note that the statistics reflect direct railroad
employment and exclude related industries such as railcar manufacturing. Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Railroad employment stabilized in the
mid-to-late 1990s. Pressures to operate more efficiently, coupled with baby
boomer retirement, left some freight railroads unprepared for the recent surge
in demand since 2003. This industry turnaround has created a very favorable
environment for railroad employment.
For a breakdown of rail jobs by occupation, please see the
Railroad Occupations,
Wages & Salaries Page. For current job postings and a guide to employment opportunities in the railroad industry, please see
the Railroad Jobs & Employment section.
| Year |
Employment |
Change |
|
Year |
Employment |
Change |
|
1947 |
1,516,000 |
|
|
1979 |
541,000 |
17,000 |
|
1948 |
1,477,000 |
-39,000 |
|
1980 |
518,000 |
-23,000 |
|
1949 |
1,331,000 |
-146,000 |
|
1981 |
482,000 |
-36,000 |
|
1950 |
1,354,000 |
23,000 |
|
1982 |
418,000 |
-64,000 |
|
1951 |
1,411,000 |
57,000 |
|
1983 |
366,000 |
-52,000 |
|
1952 |
1,363,000 |
-48,000 |
|
1984 |
365,000 |
-1,000 |
|
1953 |
1,340,000 |
-23,000 |
|
1985 |
349,000 |
-16,000 |
|
1954 |
1,184,000 |
-156,000 |
|
1986 |
323,000 |
-26,000 |
|
1955 |
1,173,000 |
-11,000 |
|
1987 |
300,000 |
-23,000 |
|
1956 |
1,160,000 |
-13,000 |
|
1988 |
290,000 |
-10,000 |
|
1957 |
1,092,000 |
-68,000 |
|
1989 |
284,000 |
-6,000 |
|
1958 |
933,000 |
-159,000 |
|
1990 |
271,000 |
-13,000 |
|
1959 |
901,000 |
-32,000 |
|
1991 |
255,000 |
-16,000 |
|
1960 |
862,000 |
-39,000 |
|
1992 |
248,000 |
-7,000 |
|
1961 |
795,000 |
-67,000 |
|
1993 |
242,000 |
-6,000 |
|
1962 |
775,000 |
-20,000 |
|
1994 |
234,000 |
-8,000 |
|
1963 |
751,000 |
-24,000 |
|
1995 |
232,000 |
-2,000 |
|
1964 |
736,000 |
-15,000 |
|
1996 |
225,000 |
-7,000 |
|
1965 |
716,000 |
-20,000 |
|
1997 |
220,000 |
-5,000 |
|
1966 |
706,000 |
-10,000 |
|
1998 |
225,000 |
5,000 |
|
1967 |
680,000 |
-26,000 |
|
1999 |
228,000 |
3,000 |
|
1968 |
650,000 |
-30,000 |
|
2000 |
231,000 |
3,000 |
|
1969 |
632,000 |
-18,000 |
|
2001 |
226,000 |
-5,000 |
|
1970 |
617,000 |
-15,000 |
|
2002 |
217,000 |
-9,000 |
|
1971 |
589,000 |
-28,000 |
|
2003 |
219,000 |
2,000 |
|
1972 |
566,000 |
-23,000 |
|
2004 |
213,000 |
-6,000 |
|
1973 |
563,000 |
-3,000 |
|
2005 |
213,000 |
--- |
|
1974 |
574,000 |
11,000 |
|
2006 |
208,000 |
-5,000 |
|
1975 |
533,000 |
-41,000 |
|
2007 |
213,000 |
5,000 |
|
1976 |
523,000 |
-10,000 |
|
2008 |
220,000 |
7,000 |
|
1977 |
530,000 |
7,000 |
|
2009 |
226,000 |
6,000 |
|
1978 |
524,000 |
-6,000 |
|
2010 |
227,000 |
1,000 |
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