Support activities for rail transportation
NAICS Code: 488200
BLS projects Support activities for rail transportation to grow +0.7% through 2034 - 1.7 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 34% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Support activities for rail transportation sits among all industries
Projected 2024–2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Support activities for rail transportation has projected growth of 0.7%. Distribution: 21 industries at -15--10%; 23 industries at -10--5%; 41 industries at -5-0%; 128 industries at 0-5%; 51 industries at 5-10%; 14 industries at 10-15%; 4 industries at 15-20%; 3 industries at 20-25%; 6 industries at 25-30%.
Industry Insight
The Support activities for rail transportation industry is classified under NAICS code 488200 and employed approximately 43,600 workers in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. By 2034, BLS projects employment will reach 43,900 - a net change of +300 jobs over the decade. That works out to a +0.7% projected growth rate, a measured but positive trajectory.
NAICS 488200 sits within a broader sector ecosystem whose health depends on demographic trends, technology adoption curves, and policy decisions on immigration, tax incentives, and labor regulation. The occupation mix inside Support activities for rail transportation determines how AI displacement risk filters down to individual workers, industries dominated by clerical and routine analytical roles face the steepest exposure, while those anchored in physical skill, patient care, or creative judgment retain stronger resilience.
Use this industry profile alongside our occupation rankings and employer AI risk grades to build a full picture. The BLS publishes detailed wage and employment figures for each sector in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The BLS Employment Projections methodology blends input-output modeling, productivity forecasts, and occupational staffing patterns, so estimates are directional rather than precise, and industry-level outcomes depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions that evolve between projection cycles.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Support activities for rail transportation (NAICS 488200) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Metal ore mining | 44,900 | +7.9% |
| Support activities for rail transportation | 43,600 | +0.7% |
| Other support activities for transportation | 42,700 | +3.9% |
| Coal mining | 42,500 | -45.3% |
| Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation | 41,500 | +2.0% |
| Other transportation equipment manufacturing | 41,400 | -9.4% |
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 Support activities for rail transportation?
As of 2024, the Support activities for rail transportation industry employs approximately 43,600 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Support activities for rail transportation growing or declining?
The Support activities for rail transportation industry is projected to grow by 0.7% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +300 jobs over the decade.
What jobs are in the Support activities for rail transportation industry?
The Support activities for rail transportation industry (NAICS 488200) employs workers across a range of occupations. Browse the full occupations directory to see AI exposure scores, wage data, and growth projections for specific roles common in this industry.
How will AI affect the Support activities for rail transportation industry?
AI impact on the Support activities for rail transportation industry depends on the specific occupation mix. Industries with more routine data processing and clerical roles tend to have higher AI displacement risk, while those requiring physical labor, complex judgment, or creative work face lower risk. View occupation-level AI exposure scores for detailed analysis.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Employment figures in thousands. Data reflects projected changes over the 2024–2034 decade