As the Biden administration begins work on selling their massive infrastructure plan to Congress and the American people there are two basic pillars that administration is using to muster support. One is that with a $2 trillion price tag, they are driving the point home that this is a transformational plan that should set the nation up well for the next century. This plan will spread money around on transportation, buildings, manufacturing, energy, and development. To that end, the second pillar the administration is using to sell this plan is that it is a national jobs plan. It’s literally called “The American Jobs Plan”.
The plan, as proposed looks to be a boon for the trucking industry, an industry that heroically ensured stores were stocked, hospitals were supplied, and first responders were equipped during the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. A new report by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) states that, jobs for commercial drivers of heavy trucks and light truck/delivery drivers would account for 1.9 million and 901,300 jobs, respectively for about 2.81 million jobs total. That would translate to around 20 percent of the 15 million estimated jobs (see below).
A key component of the infrastructure plan is in workforce development. This is crucial for a few reasons. First and foremost, there has been too large a shift away from jobs in the trades and manufacturing sectors. These industries are essential for US competitiveness and the pandemic illustrated how over reliant we are on imported goods and materials. Secondly, we have so much available work in this nation as well as people looking for jobs but a major skills gap in connecting those who need jobs and those who need workers. Truck driving is a great example of this. Right now, it is estimated that by 2026 there will be a 175,000 shortage of qualified truck drivers.
To listen to our breakdown of the infrastructure plan click here.
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