Telecommunications
NAICS Code: 517000
BLS projects Telecommunications to contract -8.5% through 2034 - 10.9 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 10% of them. It ranks among the contracting industries projected through 2034.
Where Telecommunications sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Telecommunications sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
-8.5% Top 90% higher than 10% 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
Contraction read
Signature: 45.8% mean employer AI exposure across 210 tracked public companies .
BLS projects contraction even though many public companies still map to this sector - read employer grades as residual corporate exposure, not proof the industry will keep the same staffing footprint.
NAICS 517000 · 621,300 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 Telecommunications.
Public companies in this NAICS sector
NAICS sector 51/51-telecom bucket (includes sibling industries). 210 companies scored · mean AI exposure 45.8%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Aci Worldwide, Inc. | C |
| Adobe Inc. | C |
| Alarm.com Holdings, Inc. | C |
| Alphabet Inc. | C |
| Amdocs Ltd | C |
| Appfolio Inc | C |
| Applied Digital Corp. | C |
| AppLovin Corp | C |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Telecommunications shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Telecommunications (NAICS 517000) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Software publishers | 645,700 | +19.3% |
| Telecommunications | 621,300 | -8.5% |
| Office administrative services | 619,200 | +5.9% |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 611,100 | +4.6% |
| Postal service | 605,700 | -4.5% |
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers | 594,100 | +3.0% |
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 Telecommunications?
As of 2024, the Telecommunications industry employs approximately 621,300 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Telecommunications growing or declining?
The Telecommunications industry is projected to decline by 8.5% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of -53,000 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Telecommunications?
210 tracked public companies in NAICS sector 51/51-telecom (sibling industries included). Sample names include Aci Worldwide, Inc., Adobe Inc., Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Telecommunications industry?
Among 210 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 45.8% (most common grade C). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Telecommunications. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next under contraction
What to do with this
Use Telecommunications' 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