Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
BTS Home > Publications > National Transportation Statistics
Printable Version

Table 3-19b: Employment in For-Hire Transportation and Selected Transportation-Related Industriesa (North American Industry Classification System (NAICS] basis)

(Thousands)

Excel | CSV

NAICS Code   1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
  TOTAL U.S. labor forceb 54,296 60,874 71,006 77,069 90,528 97,511 109,487 108,374 108,726 110,844 114,291 117,298 119,708 122,776 125,930 128,993 131,785 131,826 130,341 129,999 131,435 133,703 136,086 137,623
  Transportation related labor force 2,115 2,059 2,228 2,925 2,879 3,346 12,087 11,778 11,618 11,739 12,096 12,450 12,192 12,998 13,269 13,547 13,638 13,473 13,117 12,934 12,971 (R) 13,108 13,205 13,197
48-49 Transportation and warehousing U U U 2,620 2,961 3,012 3,476 3,463 3,462 3,554 3,701 3,838 3,935 4,027 4,168 4,300 4,410 4,372 4,224 4,185 4,249 (R) 4,361 4,470 4,536
481 Air transportation U U U U U U 529 525 520 517 511 511 526 542 563 586 614 615 564 528 515 501 487 493
4811 Scheduled air transportation U U U U U U 503 498 491 486 477 473 486 501 520 543 570 570 520 485 472 456 (R) 442 447
4812 Nonscheduled air transportation U U U U U U 27 27 29 31 34 38 40 41 43 44 45 45 44 43 43 44 45 46
482 Rail transportation 862 716 617 534 518 350 272 256 248 242 235 233 225 221 225 229 232 227 218 218 226 228 (R) 228 234
483 Water transportation U U U U U U 57 57 57 53 52 51 51 51 51 52 56 54 53 55 56 61 (R) 63 64
4831 Sea, coastal, and Great Lakes water transportation U U U U U U 35 36 35 33 33 32 32 32 32 33 36 34 32 34 35 37 39 40
4832 Inland water transportation U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
484 Truck transportation U U U U U U 1,122 1,105 1,107 1,155 1,206 1,249 1,282 1,308 1,354 1,392 1,406 1,387 1,339 1,326 1,352 1,398 (R) 1,436 1,441
4841 General freight trucking U U U U U U 807 795 797 831 867 901 924 942 976 1,002 1,013 992 952 935 950 981 (R) 1,005 1,006
4842 Specialized freight trucking U U U U U U 315 310 311 324 339 348 359 367 379 390 393 395 388 390 402 417 (R) 431 435
485 Transit and ground passenger transportation U U U U U U 274 284 288 (R) 300 317 328 339 350 363 371 372 375 381 382 385 389 (R) 399 410
4851 Urban transit systems U U U U U U 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 36 36 35 36 38 38 39 40 (R) 40 40
4852 Interurban and rural bus transportation 38 39 41 38 36 33 25 23 22 21 22 23 23 21 23 23 23 24 23 22 21 20 20 19
4853 Taxi and limousine service U U U U U U 57 59 58 61 64 66 68 70 72 73 72 71 68 67 66 66 (R) 69 72
4854 School and employee bus transportation U U U 66 81 93 114 118 121 125 130 136 137 142 146 151 152 153 161 165 167 169 (R) 172 177
4855 Charter bus industry U U U 11 15 21 26 27 27 28 28 29 31 32 34 36 38 37 36 33 32 31 (R) 31 32
4859 Other transit and ground passenger transportation U U U U U U 31 34 36 39 43 45 48 51 52 53 51 54 56 58 59 63 (R) 67 70
486 Pipeline transportation U U U U U U 60 61 60 59 57 54 51 50 48 47 46 45 42 40 38 38 (R) 39 40
4861 Pipeline transportation of crude oil U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
4862 Pipeline transportation of natural gas U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
4869 Other pipeline transportation U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
487 Scenic and sightseeing transportation U U U U U U 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 25 25 26 28 29 26 27 27 (R) 29 (R) 28 29
4871 Scenic and sightseeing transportation, land U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
4872 Scenic and sightseeing transportation, water U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
4879 Scenic and sightseeing transportation, other U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
488 Support activities for transportation U U U U U U 364 377 370 382 405 430 446 473 497 518 537 539 525 520 535 (R) 552 (R) 571 583
4881 Support activities for air transportation U U U U U U 96 96 96 99 101 104 109 115 124 133 141 140 139 136 142 148 (R) 157 164
4883 Support activities for water transportation U U U U U U 91 96 89 86 89 92 90 92 94 96 97 95 95 94 92 94 (R) 99 100
4884 Support activities for road transportation U U U U U U 35 36 38 41 45 49 53 57 60 63 66 69 70 72 76 79 (R) 81 83
4885 Freight transportation arrangement U U U U U U 111 115 114 120 130 143 149 161 166 172 178 179 168 167 171 177 (R) 180 183
4889 Support activities for other transportation, including rail U U U U U U 32 33 34 37 40 43 45 48 53 54 56 57 52 52 55 55 (R) 53 53
491 Postal service 591 619 741 699 673 750 825 813 800 793 821 850 867 866 881 890 880 873 842 809 (R) 782 774 (R) 770 762
492 Couriers and messengers U U U U U U 375 379 389 414 466 517 540 546 568 586 605 587 561 562 557 (R) 571 (R) 582 583
4921 Couriers and express delivery services U U U U U U 340 344 354 378 423 469 489 494 513 528 546 530 507 510 507 (R) 522 (R) 533 533
4922 Local messengers and local delivery U U U U U U 35 35 35 36 43 48 51 52 55 58 59 57 54 51 50 50 (R) 50 49
493 Warehousing and storage U U U U U U 407 403 406 413 431 444 452 462 474 494 514 514 517 528 558 (R) 595 (R) 638 659
  Transportation related manufacturing                                                
324 Petroleum and coal products manufacturing U U U U U U 153 155 152 146 144 140 137 136 135 128 123 121 118 114 112 (R) 112 (R) 113 113
32621 Tire manufacturingc U U U U U U 90 86 87 87 85 87 86 84 87 87 87 82 76 72 70 67 (R) 60 59
32622 Rubber and plastic hoses and belting manufacturing U U U 29 31 26 25 23 23 24 26 27 27 28 29 30 30 29 28 28 28 29 (R) 28 27
334511 Search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical system and instrument manufacturing U U U U U 354 280 256 226 201 175 158 158 159 163 161 149 150 148 145 151 157 (R) 158 159
336 Transportation equipment manufacturing U U U U U U 2,133 2,028 1,977 1,914 1,936 1,977 1,974 2,026 (R) 2,078 (R) 2,089 (R) 2,057 (R) 1,939 (R) 1,830 (R) 1,775 (R) 1,767 (R) 1,772 (R) 1,769 1,711
3361 Motor vehicle manufacturing U U U U U U 271 258 260 264 282 295 285 287 284 291 291 279 265 265 256 248 (R) 237 223
3362 Motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing U U U U U U 130 120 126 136 151 160 155 158 170 184 183 159 152 153 165 171 (R) 179 165
3363 Motor vehicle parts manufacturing U U U U U U 653 639 661 678 736 787 800 809 818 837 840 775 734 708 692 678 (R) 655 609
3364 Aerospace product and parts manufacturing U U U U U U 841 784 711 624 552 514 514 555 579 547 517 511 470 442 442 455 (R) 474 487
3365 Railroad rolling stock manufacturing U U U U U U 31 28 27 29 33 35 33 32 35 35 33 28 23 23 25 27 (R) 28 27
3366 Ship and boat building (R) 130 (R) 148 (R) 158 (R) 179 (R) 203 (R) 172 (R) 174 (R) 165 (R) 158 (R) 148 (R) 147 (R) 148 (R) 147 (R) 146 (R) 154 (R) 154 (R) 154 (R) 148 (R) 147 (R) 147 (R) 149 (R) 154 (R) 157 161
3369 Other transportation equipment manufacturing U U U U U U 35 35 36 37 38 40 41 41 40 40 40 39 39 38 38 39 (R) 40 40
  Other transportation related industries                                                
2373 Highway, street, and bridge construction U U U U U U 289 267 264 271 274 278 288 294 308 336 340 346 346 340 347 (R) 351 (R) 348 345
4231 Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies merchant wholesalers U U U U U U 309 304 302 306 320 335 343 350 354 360 356 347 346 342 341 344 (R) 348 350
42386 Transportation equipment and supplies merchant wholesalersd U U U U U U 35 34 33 31 31 32 33 35 37 40 39 36 34 32 32 (R) 33 (R) 33 34
4247 Petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers U U U U U U 155 147 137 129 128 126 124 123 122 123 119 114 111 106 101 (R) 100 (R) 100 100
441 Motor vehicle parts dealers U U U U U U 1,494 1,435 1,428 1,475 1,565 1,627 1,686 1,723 1,741 1,797 1,847 1,855 1,879 1,883 1902 1,919 (R) 1,910 1,913
4411 Automobile dealers U U U 769 783 904 983 938 935 970 1,032 1,072 1,113 1,135 1,142 1,180 1,217 1,225 1,253 1,254 1,257 1,261 1,247 1,245
4412 Other motor vehicle dealers U U U U U U 93 84 81 83 91 97 101 105 110 121 132 136 142 149 159 166 (R) 169 170
4413 Automotive parts, accessories, and tire stores U U U U U U 418 413 413 422 443 459 471 484 489 496 499 493 485 480 487 491 (R) 494 497
447 Gasoline stations U U U U U U 910 889 876 881 902 922 946 956 961 944 936 925 896 882 876 871 (R) 864 861
5321 Automotive equipment rental and leasing U U U U U 142 163 152 151 156 163 171 180 184 189 199 208 208 195 193 197 199 (R) 199 195
532411 Commercial air, rail, water transportation equipment rental and leasing U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
5615 Travel arrangement and reservation services U U U U U U 250 240 245 256 271 281 294 302 304 297 299 285 252 235 226 224 (R) 226 227
6219 Other ambulatory health care services U U U U U U 99 107 114 125 135 143 154 164 171 173 173 180 187 195 200 (R) 206 (R) 217 229
8111 Automotive repair and maintenance U U U U U U 659 636 636 670 701 738 781 811 828 864 888 904 900 894 891 (R) 886 (R) 887 888
81293 Parking lots and garages U U U U U U 68 69 68 70 71 75 78 82 85 89 93 96 96 100 102 (R) 103 (R) 108 110
92612 Regulation and administration of transportation programs U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
  Government employment, totale 532 577 711 716 671 649 673 672 635 650 647 644 99 647 629 642 604 611 610 605 600 602 599 577
  U.S. DOTf N N 104 112 112 100 104 108 110 109 103 101 99 98 99 100 58 60 65 59 57 56 54 54
  State and Local Highwayg,h 532 577 607 604 559 549 569 564 525 541 544 543 N 548 530 543 546 552 545 546 543 546 (R) 545 523

KEY: N = data do not exist; R = revised; U = data are not available

a Annual averages.

b Excludes farm employment.

c Includes tire manufacturing and tire retreading.

d Does not include motor vehicle wholesalers.

e Not all government agencies are included (e.g., the National Transportation Safety Board).

f The U.S. Department of Transportation was created in 1966. Data are for fiscal year and include permanent civilians as well as temporary employees and military. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) were transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

g Full-time equivalent employment. Data prior to 1986 are not directly comparable to data from later years due to a change in the way full-time equivalent was calculated. Full-time equivalent was not calculated for 1985.

h Due to a change in the reference period, from October to March, the October 1996 Annual Survey of Government Employment and Payroll was not conducted.

SOURCES

All data, except as noted:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Data, National Employment Hours and Earnings, available at http://www.bls.gov/data/sa.htm as of November 2008.

Government employment:

USDOT:

1970-75: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1976 (Washington, DC: 1976), table 409, and U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, G-WPM, Office of Military Personnel, personal communication.

1980-85: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, DOT Employment Facts, A Report to Management (Washington, DC: Annual issues).

1990-2003: Ibid., DOT Workforce Demographics (Washington, DC : Annual issues).2004-07: Ibid., DOT Workforce Demographics, Demographics by Year, available at http://dothr.ost.dot.gov/workforceinfo/demographics.htm as of November 2007.

State and local highway:

1960-91: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1993 (Washington, DC: 1993), table 500 and similar tables in earlier editions.1992-2007: Ibid., available at http://www.census.gov/pub/govs/www/apesstl.html as of November 2008.
Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) • U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE • Washington, DC 20590 • 800-853-1351 • E-mail RITA

Accessibility | Disclaimer | Fast Lane | FedStats | Freedom of Information Act | No FEAR Act | OIG Hotline | Privacy Policy | RSS | USA.gov | White House | Wireless

Plug-ins: PDF Reader | Flash Player | Excel Viewer | PowerPoint Viewer | Word Viewer | WinZip

RITA's privacy policies and procedures do not necessarily apply to external web sites. We suggest contacting these sites directly for information on their data collection and distribution policies.