Couriers and express delivery services
NAICS Code: 492100
BLS projects Couriers and express delivery services to grow +4.8% through 2034 - 2.4 points faster than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 73% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Couriers and express delivery services sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Couriers and express delivery services sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
4.8% Top 27% higher than 73% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Steady-state read
Signature: 40.5% mean employer AI exposure across 180 tracked public companies .
Employment change is near the industry median, yet the sector has a large tracked public-company set - the grade mix below is the more distinctive signal on this page.
NAICS 492100 · 909,800 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Couriers and express delivery services.
Public companies in this NAICS sector
NAICS sector 48-49 bucket (includes sibling industries). 180 companies scored · mean AI exposure 40.5%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Aes Corp | B |
| Alaska Air Group, Inc. | B |
| Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. | B |
| Alliant Energy Corp | B |
| Ameren Corp | B |
| American Airlines Group Inc. | B |
| American Electric Power Co Inc | B |
| American States Water Co | B |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Couriers and express delivery services shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Couriers and express delivery services (NAICS 492100) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building construction | 943,100 | +4.2% |
| Landscaping services | 911,200 | +2.6% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 910,500 | +5.0% |
| Couriers and express delivery services | 909,800 | +4.8% |
| Investigation, guard, and armored car services | 868,600 | +4.8% |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 866,700 | +8.7% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Couriers and express delivery services?
As of 2024, the Couriers and express delivery services industry employs approximately 909,800 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Couriers and express delivery services growing or declining?
The Couriers and express delivery services industry is projected to grow by 4.8% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +43,400 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Couriers and express delivery services?
180 tracked public companies in NAICS sector 48-49 (sibling industries included). Sample names include Aes Corp, Alaska Air Group, Inc., Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Couriers and express delivery services industry?
Among 180 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 40.5% (most common grade B). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Couriers and express delivery services. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next
What to do with this
Use Couriers and express delivery services' employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts