Parking Industry Study Demonstrates Size and Scope of Industry and Significant U.S. Employment

"Parking in Perspective: The Size and Scope of Parking in America"

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Parking Association has announced the release of a new research report: Parking in Perspective: The Size and Scope of Parking in America. The study finds that parking provides jobs to more than 143,000 people and represents economic activity in excess of $18 billion in the U.S. alone.

Parking employment is part of every facet of private and public organizations, from commercial parking operators to retail/civic centers, hospitals, and colleges and universities, as well as state, county and city governments.

This study analyzes parking industry data and public research data to form a solid description of the parking industry and its market size. The report answers a number of pertinent questions about market size, geographic distribution of parking facilities, number of facilities and U.S. employment and wages.

"The National Parking Association undertook a major research initiative to determine the general size, scope, segmentation, employment and distribution of the parking industry," said NPA President Christine Banning, CAE. "The NPA research report shows a relationship between U.S. population density, parking facility locations, revenue and employment. Parking will continue to play a key role as part of urban planning and job creation, and serve as a vital link in the U.S. transportation system."

The report found that the parking industry encompasses a wide range of segments, and that there is no single source for comprehensive market data on the entire industry. To develop a market picture from unrelated data sets, an extensive research review was conducted, analyzing data from a broad range of sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since 2000, U.S. population has grown 9.7 percent. Demand for parking, particularly in urban areas, is likely to grow significantly, along with public transportation demand, as the U.S. population is projected to reach 439 million by 2050.

Among the key findings:

• The United States parking industry is an $18 billion dollar industry.
• There are more than 40,000 parking facilities in the Unites States.
• There are approximately 143,000 parking professionals.
• The payroll for parking industry employees totals $2 billion in the United States. 
• The top two states, California and New York, account for one-third of all parking facilities.
• The top five states with parking facilities are California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
• The top five states by parking facility generate more than 51% of parking industry revenue.

The study reports on both private enterprise and public parking. Parking in Perspective is available to NPA members at no charge. Non-members can purchase the report for $99.

About NPA: The National Parking Association is the nation's leading parking trade group advancing the interests of the private and public sector in parking technology, sustainable mobility, certification, advocacy, research and education. Founded in 1951, NPA has more than 2,000 members and represents all facets of the parking industry. www.NPApark.org

Contact: Denise Gable
202.470.6303
[email protected]

SOURCE National Parking Association