How many warehouse workers are employed in the United States? (2025 data)

The United States employs approximately 1.86 million workers in the warehousing and storage industry as of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When including the broader category of hand laborers and material movers—which encompasses warehouse associates, stockers, order fillers, and freight handlers—that number jumps to 7 million workers. This makes warehousing one of the largest employment sectors in the American economy, driven largely by the explosive growth of e-commerce over the past decade.

Numbers at a glance

• 1.86 million — Workers employed in warehousing and storage (NAICS 493) as of 2024
• 7 million — Total hand laborers and material movers employed in 2024
• 6.6 million — Total transportation and warehousing sector employment (June 2024)
• 47% — Employment growth in transportation and warehousing from 2013 to 2023
• 34% — Employment growth in warehousing since February 2020
• 4% — Projected employment growth for material movers (2024-2034)
• 1,008,300 — Projected annual job openings for hand laborers and material movers
• 579,900 — Total new jobs projected in material moving occupations by 2034

Total warehouse employment in the U.S.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which sources data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the warehousing and storage industry (NAICS 4931) reached 1,861,800 workers in 2024. This figure represents workers specifically employed in warehouse facilities, distribution centers, and storage operations.

The broader transportation and warehousing sector employed 6.6 million workers as of June 2024, accounting for 5% of all private-sector employment in the United States. Warehousing and storage represents the largest component of this sector at 27%, followed by truck transportation (24%) and couriers and messengers (16%).

Warehouse employment growth: 2013-2024

The warehousing industry has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade. According to BLS data, transportation and warehousing payroll employment surged by 47% between November 2013 and November 2023—one of the fastest growth rates of any sector in the U.S. economy.

Although employment in warehousing and storage has declined slightly from its peak in May 2022, it remains 34% higher than pre-pandemic levels (February 2020). This sustained growth reflects the structural shift toward e-commerce that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amazon’s share of warehouse employment

Amazon has become the single largest warehouse employer in the United States. The company employs approximately 1.1 million workers in the U.S., with roughly 65% of its workforce—about 1 million employees—working in operations and fulfillment roles including warehouse associates, delivery drivers, and logistics coordinators.

To put this in perspective, Amazon now represents approximately 37% of all U.S. warehouse employment. This concentration makes Amazon’s hiring trends a major indicator for the overall health of the warehousing labor market.

Future employment outlook: 2024-2034

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that overall employment of hand laborers and material movers will grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, roughly matching the average for all occupations. The U.S. economy is projected to add 5.2 million jobs total during this period, with transportation and warehousing expected to contribute 198,800 new jobs—the seventh-largest increase among all 20 sectors.

Despite moderate percentage growth, the sheer size of the warehousing workforce means substantial job opportunities. The BLS projects approximately 1,008,300 annual job openings for hand laborers and material movers through 2034—primarily to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or retire.

E-commerce growth driving warehouse demand

The primary driver of warehouse employment growth is the continued expansion of e-commerce. According to the BLS, the growing volume of online purchases is expected to support employment growth in transportation and warehousing, primarily due to an increasing volume of parcel shipments and deliveries.

Stockers and order fillers—workers who receive, store, and issue merchandise to fill customer orders—are expected to account for approximately 40% of all job gains in material moving occupations through 2034. Demand for these workers will be supported by the consumer preference to buy online and pickup in-store (BOPIS), which requires workers to fill a growing number of online orders.

Impact of automation on employment outlook

While e-commerce growth continues to drive demand for warehousing services, the BLS projects that automation adoption will moderate employment growth. Warehousing firms are increasingly implementing automation solutions including warehouse management systems, automated guided vehicles, robots, and AI-based systems.

The productivity gains from these technologies are expected to limit labor demand, leading to slower-than-average employment growth in the warehousing industry despite increased activity. The global warehouse automation market is projected to grow at 15.9% CAGR from 2025 to 2034, reaching significant scale as companies invest in robotics and artificial intelligence.

Occupational breakdown within warehousing

The hand laborers and material movers occupational group—which held 7 million jobs in 2024—encompasses several distinct roles within warehousing operations:

Occupation	Primary Role	Growth Outlook
Stockers & Order Fillers	Fill shelves, racks, and customer orders	40% of job gains
Laborers & Freight Movers	Load/unload freight and move materials	Average
Industrial Truck Operators	Operate forklifts and powered equipment	Average
Cargo & Freight Agents	Coordinate shipments and track freight	Above average

Frequently asked questions

How many warehouse workers are there in the United States?

Approximately 1.86 million workers are employed specifically in the warehousing and storage industry (NAICS 493) as of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The broader category of hand laborers and material movers, which includes warehouse workers, stockers, and freight handlers, totals about 7 million workers.

How fast is warehouse employment growing?

Warehouse employment grew 47% from 2013 to 2023 and remains 34% above pre-pandemic (February 2020) levels. Looking ahead, the BLS projects 4% growth in material mover employment from 2024 to 2034, matching the average for all occupations.

How many warehouse jobs open up each year?

The BLS projects approximately 1,008,300 annual job openings for hand laborers and material movers through 2034. Most openings result from workers transferring to other occupations or retiring rather than new job creation.

What percentage of warehouse workers does Amazon employ?

Amazon employs approximately 37% of all U.S. warehouse workers. The company has about 1 million workers in operations and fulfillment roles, making it the largest warehouse employer in the country by a significant margin.

Will automation eliminate warehouse jobs?

Automation is expected to moderate—not eliminate—warehouse employment growth. While e-commerce continues driving demand, productivity gains from warehouse management systems, autonomous robots, and AI will limit how many new workers are needed. The BLS still projects positive job growth and over 1 million annual openings.

Which warehouse occupations are growing fastest?

Stockers and order fillers are expected to account for 40% of all job gains in material moving occupations through 2034, driven by e-commerce and buy-online-pickup-in-store demand. Cargo and freight agents are also projected to see above-average growth.

How many jobs will transportation and warehousing add by 2034?

The transportation and warehousing sector is projected to add 198,800 new jobs between 2024 and 2034, making it the seventh-largest growth sector in the U.S. economy. The total economy is expected to add 5.2 million jobs during this period.

What’s driving warehouse employment growth?

E-commerce expansion is the primary driver, particularly the growth of online shopping and consumer preferences for buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and same-day delivery options. These trends require more workers to pick, pack, and fulfill orders.

Final thoughts

The U.S. warehousing industry employs nearly 1.9 million workers directly, with another 5+ million in related material handling roles. This workforce experienced explosive growth over the past decade—47% from 2013 to 2023—fueled by the e-commerce boom and accelerated by pandemic-era shifts in consumer behavior.

Looking ahead, the outlook is characterized by stability rather than dramatic change. The BLS projects 4% growth through 2034, with over 1 million annual job openings providing consistent opportunities for workers entering the field. While automation will increasingly shape warehouse operations, the combination of e-commerce demand and high turnover rates ensures continued hiring needs.

For the warehousing labor market, the key dynamic to watch is the balance between e-commerce growth—which drives demand for workers—and automation adoption—which improves productivity per worker. Current projections suggest these forces will roughly offset, resulting in steady but moderate employment growth for the foreseeable future.

Sources & methodology

• Bureau of Labor Statistics — Transportation and Warehousing Employment Spotlight (2024)
• Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Hand Laborers and Material Movers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections 2024-2034 Overview
• Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections Summary
• Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) — All Employees, Warehousing and Storage
• About Amazon — Workforce Data
• GeekWire — Amazon State Employment Analysis
• Global Market Insights — Warehouse Automation Market Report