[fabricator]

The railroad transportation job market is expected to experience negative growth through 2012. The primary source for new job opportunities will be the replacement of retiring and other departing workers. Employment decline will be further affected by the consolidation of many railroad occupations and duties. Competition within the transportation industry continues to force railroads to cut labor costs by assigning engineers and conductors to duties normally performed by other workers. Conversely, national increases in demand for light-rail transportation systems suggest that employment of subway and streetcar operators will grow at a rate equal to the average for all occupations through 2012