Signal Mechanics

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for most railroad transportation occupations, including signal mechanics, will be slower than average through 2033. "The expected increase in intermodal freight activity—the shipment of goods through multiple transportation modes—may support demand for railroad workers," the DOL explains. "However, railroads’ efforts to operate more efficiently, such as by deploying automated systems, are likely to limit employment." Because of the increasingly complex circuitry involved in the signaling systems, signal maintainers with the strongest technical training will be in the greatest demand in the coming years.