US hiring demand report:
Transportation Sector
2025 Preview
Trends in data compiled by Adzuna reveal how the transportation industry is evolving amid ongoing challenges. This report analyzes recruitment data from the past 18 months, highlighting shifts in roles, regions, benefits, and expectations for 2025.
Year over year transportation vacancies (’23 vs ’24)
With 5 out of the last 6 months showing positive growth in Transportation job vacancies and a YoY increase seen in September, are we seeing signs that the sector is on the up? These hiring patterns and last month’s growth point to an earlier start than usual to the peak holiday and retail season.
Top transportation vacancies
Our analysis of key roles reveals significant trends over the past 20 months. Cargo Handlers consistently lead in vacancies, with notable peaks in March and November 2023, suggesting seasonal influences, though not matched precisely in 2024. Truck Driver positions show stability but increase during the fall, likely due to pre-holiday shipping demands. Delivery Driver roles, while fewer in number, saw a marked rise in late 2023, reflecting the growth of e-commerce. Supervisor and forklift operator positions exhibit distinct patterns, with supervisor vacancies peaking in early 2024 and forklift operator demand trending upward recently.
Year over year growth by state (’23 vs ’24)
The demand for transportation talent by state was broken down by the change in vacancies per state from Q3 ‘23 to Q3 ’24. The state that grew the most can be accredited to a variety of infrastructure projects and different initiatives, which are further listed below. The states that decreased in demand the most include Vermont, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia.
Where transportation demand is strongest
For these states, the significant growth in transportation talent demand likely reflects broader economic expansion, changes in consumer behavior, and the need to modernize and expand transportation infrastructure. The pandemic may have also played a role in reshaping transportation needs and supply chains, contributing to increased demand for talent in this sector.
What’s driving growth?
There are a variety of reasons as to why we believe these states are seeing the highest level of growth for the demand for transportation talent.
Massachusetts
- Extremely tight labor market: As of September, Massachusetts has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is lower than the national average of 4.1%. This tight labor market extends to the transportation sector, with over two job openings for every unemployed individual.1
- Transportation system improvements: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has unveiled its “Beyond Mobility” plan, which outlines billions of dollars in investments for transportation infrastructure improvements. Key initiatives include expanding rail and transit services, transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet, and implementing new technologies like Advanced Air Mobility, all of which will create new job opportunities in the transportation sector.2
- Focus on transportation equity: Massachusetts is placing a strong emphasis on transportation equity, as evidenced by the Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) coalition’s recent award of $500,000 in grants to boost transportation equity across 13 communities. This focus on equity is driving new initiatives and projects that require specialized transportation talent, particularly in areas of urban planning and sustainable transportation.3
Pennsylvania
- Infrastructure investments and improvements: Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is actively investing in infrastructure upgrades and improvements. The state’s 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan outlines significant investments in various transportation modes, including highways, public transit, and aviation. The focus on infrastructure development is creating numerous job opportunities.4
- Innovative technology adoption: PennDOT is embracing new technologies to improve transportation efficiency and safety. The department has 21 licensed Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilots and 16 UAS units, with plans to expand their use in monitoring roadside hazards and project progress. This focus on innovation is driving demand for skilled workers with expertise in emerging technologies.5
- Workforce development initiatives: The On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program, established pursuant to federal regulations, provides training opportunities for minority, women, and economically disadvantaged individuals in highway construction trades. Additionally, the Future Roadbuilders virtual pre-apprenticeship program aims to spur career discovery and prepare applicants for highway construction jobs.6
Ohio
- Significant infrastructure investments: The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) planning to allocate over $2 billion annually for road and bridge maintenance and improvements. This investment not only enhances transportation networks but also creates numerous job opportunities in construction, logistics, and maintenance roles within the transportation sector.7
- Expansion of logistics and distribution centers: Ohio’s strategic location as a transportation hub has led to the expansion of logistics and distribution centers, particularly in cities like Columbus and Cincinnati. Companies such as Amazon and Walmart have established large distribution facilities in the state, driving demand for skilled workers in transportation management, warehousing, and logistics operations.8
- Workforce development initiatives: Ohio is actively addressing workforce needs through programs like the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ transportation workforce development initiatives. These programs focus on training and upskilling workers in areas such as commercial driving, fleet management, and advanced manufacturing techniques relevant to the transportation sector.9
New Hampshire
- Economic recovery and expansion strategy: New Hampshire’s Economic Recovery & Expansion Strategy (ERES) emphasizes the importance of retaining and recruiting a modern workforce. The state is focusing on building resiliency in high-growth sectors, which includes transportation and logistics given New Hampshire’s strategic location in the Northeast. This strategy is likely to drive demand for skilled transportation workers.10
- Workforce development initiatives: The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) has approximately 2,000 full and part-time employees supporting various transportation systems, including roads, bridges, airports, railways, and transit services. The state is actively working on workforce development programs, including outreach and training initiatives, to meet the growing demand for transportation talent.11
- Focus on infrastructure improvements: New Hampshire recognizes the role of infrastructure in driving the economy. The state’s economic strategy includes a focus on infrastructure development, which is likely to create job opportunities in transportation-related fields such as construction, engineering, and project management.12
Benefits
The benefits landscape in the transportation industry has evolved significantly, reflecting changing workforce priorities. Tuition reimbursement saw a notable rise, highlighting a focus on employee development. A remarkable shift is seen in flexible working arrangements. Conversely, some benefits like enhanced maternity leave and gym memberships experienced declines.
Seasonal benefits
- There’s a clear seasonal trend with Paid Time Off and sign-on bonuses peaking in the fall, particularly around November.
- The 2024 data shows a dramatic shift in offering Flexible working arrangements starting in June.
- For Enhanced maternity/paternity/parental Leave, there’s a noticeable seasonal trend in 2023 with peaks in spring and fall.
Correlation with job demand
- There’s a slight positive correlation between job vacancies and Paid Time Off in 2023, particularly in Q4. However, this trend didn’t continue into 2024.
- There’s a moderate correlation between job vacancies and Sign-on bonuses, particularly evident in the 2023 Q4 peak.
- Flexible working arrangements increased significantly in 2024 Q2 and Q3 despite lower job vacancies.
Outlook for the future
Overall, the transportation job market is expected to continue evolving in response to various challenges and opportunities. While growth may be moderate compared to previous years, certain areas are likely to see increased demand.
1
Technological integration
The rise of autonomous vehicles and AI-driven logistics is creating opportunities for specialized engineers, technicians, and data analysts.
2
Sustainability focus
Growing emphasis on green transportation is driving demand for electric vehicle specialists, alternative fuel experts, and environmental compliance officers.
3
Supply chain resilience
The need for robust and flexible supply chains is increasing demand for risk management experts, supply chain analysts, and multi-modal transportation planners.
4
Last-mile innovation
E-commerce growth is fueling opportunities in urban logistics coordination, drone operations, and customer experience specialization for last-mile delivery.
Our 8 key takeaways
Here are some critical takeaways to help you navigate this evolving environment.
1
Seasonal hiring adaptions
The shorter holiday season is driving earlier and more aggressive temporary hiring strategies, with HR teams developing innovative approaches to attract short-term workers in a competitive market.
2
Technological disruption
The rapid adoption of autonomous vehicles and AI-driven logistics is creating a skills gap in the transportation industry, with many companies struggling to find workers that are proficient in new technologies.
3
Industry restructuring
Some transportation companies have announced significant layoffs, reflecting the need for companies to adapt to changing demand dynamics.
4
Changing workforce expectations
Truck Drivers are increasingly prioritizing work-life balance, better equipment, and career advancement opportunities, which is challenging traditional recruitment and retention strategies in the trucking industry.
5
Post election season
The presidential election is injecting caution into hiring decisions, with potential fluctuations in freight volumes and supply chain configurations affecting job market stability pre and post election.
6
Regulatory compliance
Industry regulations, particularly in areas like sustainability and cybersecurity, are creating significant demand for specialized skills while also adding considerable complexity to hiring processes.
7
Truck Driver shortage & retention issues
The industry continues to grapple with a critical shortage of qualified Truck Drivers, exacerbated by an aging workforce and increasing competition, creating challenges for recruitment and retention efforts.
8
Gig economy integration
The industry is actively exploring innovative ways to incorporate gig workers into traditional logistics operations, creating new challenges and opportunities for effective workforce management
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Adzuna has the most complete index of US job vacancies, based on every job vacancy advertised online in the US from over 1,000 sources. This data is then normalized, de-duplicated, mix-adjusted and outliers are removed in real time to give an accurate, complete, up to the minute view of the job market. These insights have been collected from tracking advertised vacancies, average advertised salaries, competition for jobs, trending roles, time to fill positions, and more.
Resources
- https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/DataDownloads.asp ↩︎
- https://www.mass.gov/news/massdot-unveils-final-plan-for-beyond-mobility-plan ↩︎
- https://t4ma.org/transportation-for-massachusetts-awards-500000-in-grants-to-boost-transportation-equity-across-13-communities/ ↩︎
- https://www.penndot.pa.gov/ProjectAndPrograms/Planning/Pages/LRTP-FMP/lrtp.html ↩︎
- https://www.penndot.pa.gov/about-us/PennDOT2020/focus-on-innovations/Pages/index.aspx ↩︎
- https://www.penndot.pa.gov/about-us/EqualEmployment/Pages/On-The-Job-Training-Program.aspx ↩︎
- https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/about-us/news/statewide/2024-construction-kickoff ↩︎
- https://www.jobsohio.com/en/why-ohio/doing-business-here/location ↩︎
- https://development.ohio.gov/business/workforce-development ↩︎
- https://www.nheconomy.com/about-us/bea-reports/eres ↩︎
- https://www.dot.nh.gov/projects-plans-and-programs/programs ↩︎
- https://www.nheconomy.com/getmedia/09a7a7f8-f0dc-4370-88e8-eed40d0e2387/NH-WIOA-Combined-State-Plan-2024.pdf ↩︎