Skip to main content

ITS industry in the US has grown to $48 billion and will expand

ITS America has released what it says is the most comprehensive study to date on the scope of the ITS industry in the United States and North America. Researchers found intelligent transportation to be a fast growing sector valued at approximately US$48 billion. Results indicate that cities and states with drastically reduced budgets are turning to technology solutions to maximize existing highway capacity.
April 17, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
"This report validates what we have known for some times - that the transportation technology industry is healthy, growing, and supports high-paying jobs across the country, even in tough economic times" - Scott Belcher, President and CEO, ITS America
RSS560 ITS America has released what it says is the most comprehensive study to date on the scope of the ITS industry in the United States and North America. Researchers found intelligent transportation to be a fast growing sector valued at approximately US$48 billion. Results indicate that cities and states with drastically reduced budgets are turning to technology solutions to maximize existing highway capacity.

The federally commissioned report developed by ITS America and 1712 IHS Global Insight, suggests the ITS technology sector will outpace other industries in job creation and revenue growth through at least 2015. It further indicates that jobs within this sector pay approximately 75 per cent more than the national average wage.

“In the current economic environment, we can’t afford to build our way out of the traffic congestion crisis,” said Scott Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America. “This report validates what we have known for some time – that the transportation technology industry is healthy, growing, and supports high-paying jobs across the country, even in tough economic times. This is a sector where the US is poised to lead the way in innovation.”

Researchers discovered almost 3,000 companies in more than 40,000 locations actively participating in some aspect of the intelligent transportation industry, from small start-ups that promote car-sharing to large corporations that supply state-of-the-art traffic management services to local governments.

Among the key findings in the report:

  • Researchers estimate an end-use ITS market of $48 billion with revenues that exceed those for electronic computers, motion picture and video products, direct mail advertising, or internet advertising.
  • The report model anticipates continuing expansion. From 2009 through 2015, US private sector revenues are expected to climb between $2.7 billion to $4.2 billion each year, with ITS revenue growth exceeding average growth for the US and North America.
  • The report estimates the industry to have 180,000 US end-use private sector jobs, with 445,000 total jobs in the value chain in 2009, corresponding to 0.3 per cent of the 138 million jobs in the US.
  • The 614 US ITS end-use market will add between 3,600 to 6,400 jobs each year through 2015, when private sector end-use market ITS employment is projected to reach more than 205,000.
  • Based on survey responses, average ITS salaries are well above the national average by more than 75 per cent, with the lowest paid earning more than eight per cent above the national average wage. Three occupations (software developer, hardware developer, and other engineering) account for 32 per cent of the ITS jobs.


For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Public transport ITS market in Europe and North America to grow 7 per cent by 2020
    January 3, 2017
    The latest research from Berg Insight indicates that the market for intelligent transport systems (ITS) in public transport operations in Europe was US$1.4 billion (€1.35 billion) in 2015. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2 per cent, it is expected to reach US$2 billion (€1.91 billion) by 2020. The North American market for public transport ITS is similarly forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.1 per cent from US$0.6 billion (€0.59 billion) in 2015 to reach US$0.9 billion (€0.87 billion) in
  • Plug-in vehicles set to increase in popularity
    January 11, 2016
    The demand for plug-in vehicles (PIVs) has increased in the UK over the last number of years, says UK Construction Media. According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of electric car registrations has increased substantially over the past 12 months. An average of 2,400 electrical vehicles was registered per month in 2015 compared with just 500 at the beginning of 2014. It is estimated that the total number of electrical vehicles on the UK roads total
  • Positive incentives an alternative to road user charging?
    February 1, 2012
    The Netherlands has been looking at incentivising rush-hour avoidance. The intention is to better understand road users' motivations and find alternatives to congestion charging. Something significant needs to happen if we are to adequately address the traffic congestion and other issues caused by the ever-rising numbers of vehicles on our roads. Congestion or distance-based charging is seen as one way of managing demand and raising revenue for improvements to transport infrastructure. However, charging is
  • Low-costs solutions to improve pedestrian safety
    May 8, 2015
    David Crawford welcomes low-cost safety initiatives for pedestrians in America. Some 10 people die each week in accidents on crosswalks in the US, that’s more than 10% of all pedestrian fatalities in road traffic incidents - the number of which is running at a five-year high. Ensuring crosswalks are safe is key in supporting the growing enthusiasm for walking as a travel mode. In the last decade of the 20th century, numbers walking to work in the US fell by 26%; while, as recently as 2012, Americans were e