The nation’s railroads are so desperate to find new employees, many are offering big incentives, such as a $25,000 signing bonus for new hires as the country gets to near “full employment” in the era of President Donald Trump.
Some railroad companies are offering these incentives as the volume of freight grows because of the high demand placed on shippers due to a rising economy, according to the Wall Street Journal.
BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Corp. have seen a huge hike in business as the Trump economy hums along, but after years of lower volume, these companies are finding a sudden need for new employees.
The same need for new employees is seen in the over-the-road trucking industry, and some of that shipping is being funneled to the railroads. In fact, many trucking companies are offering similarly large signing bonuses as the economy picks up.
The railroads have taken to Twitter to advertise their need for new employees:
The $25,000 bonuses offered by Union Pacific will be issued in multiple payments, according to reports. The employee must also remain at his assigned location for a three-year period, the Journal writes. Union Pacific also warns that any new hire who quits early will be required to repay any bonus payments issued to date.
In addition, BNSF spokesperson Amy Casas admitted that the hiring climate is tight, according to WCMH TV.
“Hiring has become more difficult,” Casas said. “This year, BNSF expects to fill more than 3,500 hourly positions across our network in areas including our transportation, engineering, dispatching and mechanical crafts.”
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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