Study Highlights Benefits Of Maritime Jobs

The trucking industry currently faces a critical driver shortage, high turnover rates, irregular work schedules and health issues arising from the sedentary nature of the job. Railroad jobs have similar issues with irregular, unpredictable work schedules and have faced significant reductions in the workforce in recent years.

Compared to employment in the trucking and rail sectors, waterways positions require no prior experience and offer advancement based on merit, the opportunity to acquire additional certifications and reliable scheduling of work periods.

These were a few of the findings of a study on waterways employment released December 17. The National Waterways Foundation (NWF) commissioned the study, which was completed by the Center for Ports and Waterways, Texas A&M Transportation Institute. The study is titled “Evaluating Employment by Inland Waterways Operators.”

Transportation Workforces Focus

Supply chain disruptions since the COVID-19 pandemic intensified focus on transportation workforce availability and employment conditions. The newly released study examines employment characteristics of the inland waterways industry, comparing it to the rail and trucking sectors, while also quantifying the economic impact of inland waterways jobs on the national economy.

Among the advantages inland waterways employment offers compared to the other modes are safety, compensation, work-life balance and job security. Inland waterways transportation is significantly safer than rail or trucking, the study found, with 1/25th the fatalities of rail operations, and 1/120th the fatalities of trucking operations. The median compensation for inland waterways transportation jobs exceeds trucking wages and is near rail wages, while offering a more predictable work schedule and lower turnover rates. The sector also offers job security, as waterways-based jobs cannot easily be automated. Demand for these positions is expected to continue to grow in the future.

The study used IMPLAN, a widely used and trusted economic model, to determine the impacts of waterways employment on the national economy. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, including employment numbers and wages, were used as inputs into the IMPLAN model.

The study found that inland waterways jobs have a total economic output, including direct, indirect and induced impacts, of $36.1 billion annually. They also contribute $10.2 billion to labor income and support 127,500 jobs. Additionally, inland waterways employment contributes $4.2 billion in tax revenue nationally.

A video and a brochure that highlight the advantages of working in the inland waterways industry were also developed in conjunction with the study and will be provided to school guidance counselors around the country.

“National Waterways Foundation is proud to have commissioned this study by Texas Transportation Institute that finds inland waterways employment offers several advantages over similar jobs in other transportation sectors,” said Cherrie Felder, chair of the National Waterways Foundation. “Our industry also generates substantial national economic benefits while providing entry-level positions that can develop into skilled careers without requiring a college degree. NWF’s work continues to create conversation around the criticality of the U.S. inland waterways, which is the most energy efficient, safe and environmentally sound surface mode to transport America’s critical commodities.”

The mission of the National Waterways Foundation is to develop intellectual and factual arguments for an efficient, well-funded and secure inland waterways system. Learn more at www.nationalwaterwaysfoundation.org.