The table below provides information about the number of workers in this occupation in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.
Employment
Major employers:
- Railroads
Outlook
Demand for most railroad occupations is growing slower than average. Most growth is expected as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 recession. However, fewer people travel by train and more freight shipping is being done by long-haul trucks. As trains become more productive by pulling more cars or double loads of freight, fewer railroad workers are required.
Job openings will occur to replace workers who retire or transfer to other occupations.
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (CIS 100474)
| Location | Employment | & | Growth | >>>> | Annual openings | |
| This occupation |
All occupations |
|||||
| Illinois |
1,101 Small |
& |
0.9% |
2.4% |
>>>> |
106 Moderate |
| Champaign Area |
25 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
-0.9% |
>>>> |
2 Moderate |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area |
22 Very small |
& |
9.1% |
1.2% |
>>>> |
2 High |
| Cook County |
473 Small |
& |
1.5% |
0.6% |
>>>> |
46 Moderate |
| Decatur Area |
9 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
5.5% |
>>>> |
1 Few |
| DeKalb-Elgin-Aurora Area |
63 Very small |
& |
3.2% |
2.5% |
>>>> |
6 Moderate |
| Du Page County |
90 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
3.3% |
>>>> |
9 Few |
| Edwardsville Area |
25 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
5.5% |
>>>> |
2 Few |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area |
11 Very small |
& |
18.2% |
-2.1% |
>>>> |
1 Very High |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area |
16 Very small |
& |
6.3% |
5.8% |
>>>> |
1 Moderate |
| Lake County |
63 Very small |
& |
3.2% |
1.9% |
>>>> |
6 Moderate |
| McHenry County |
26 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
2.9% |
>>>> |
2 Few |
| Mt Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area |
16 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
1.0% |
>>>> |
1 Few |
| Northwest Illinois Area |
30 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
2.6% |
>>>> |
3 Few |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area |
48 Very small |
& |
-16.7% |
-1.9% |
>>>> |
3 None |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area |
19 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
-1.1% |
>>>> |
1 Moderate |
| Rock Island-Moline Area |
21 Very small |
& |
-4.8% |
-1.8% |
>>>> |
2 Few |
| Rockford Area |
29 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
0.9% |
>>>> |
3 Few |
| Shawnee National Forest Area |
10 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
-2.3% |
>>>> |
1 Moderate |
| Springfield Area |
24 Very small |
& |
8.3% |
0.0% |
>>>> |
2 High |
| St Louis-Belleville Area |
30 Very small |
& |
-6.7% |
-1.7% |
>>>> |
3 Very few |
| Vermilion County |
5 Very small |
& |
0.0% |
-3.0% |
>>>> |
0 Moderate |
| Will County |
54 Very small |
& |
3.7% |
4.1% |
>>>> |
5 Moderate |
| United States |
11,000 Very small |
& |
2.7% |
7.7% |
>>>> |
1,000 Few |