STB: Class I employment falls in all categories in September

Class I railroads employed 167,023 employees in the United States as of mid-September, down 1 percent compared with a year ago and down 1.17 percent compared with mid-August, according to the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

All the reported employment categories reflected workforce decreases in mid-September compared with mid-August: Executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.73 percent; professional and administrative, down 1.61 percent; maintenance-of-way and structures, down 0.59 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.51 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.51 percent; and transportation (train and engine), down 1.82 percent.

Year over year, three of the six categories reflected decreases. They were: executives, officials and staff assistants, down 2.10 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.34 percent; and transportation (train and engine), down 4.21 percent.

Categories showing year-over-year increases were: professional and administrative, up 1.14 percent; maintenance of way and structures, up 2.13 percent; and maintenance of equipment and stores, up 1.83 percent.