U.S. Class I workforce widened again in December

U.S. Class Is remained in hiring mode as 2014 drew to a close. As of mid-December, they employed 170,841 people, up 0.6 percent versus the previous month and 4.9 percent compared with December 2013's level, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

The number of workers rose in all six workforce categories on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis. Compared with November 2014 levels, the number of maintenance of equipment and stores employees increased nearly 1 percent to 30,766; number of transportation (train and engine) workers ratcheted up 0.9 percent to 71,721; number of professional and administrative staff members inched up 0.2 percent to 14,278; number of executives, officials and staff assistants grew 0.1 percent to 10,012; number of maintenance-of-way and structures workers increased nearly 0.1 percent to 37,363; and number of transportation (other than train and engine) employees rose a tad to 6,701.

On a year-over-year basis, the transportation (T&E) workforce swelled 8.3 percent, maintenance of equipment and stores workforce grew 3.4 percent, professional and administrative staff expanded 2.8 percent, maintenance-of-way and structures workforce increased 2.6 percent, number of executives, officials and staff assistants rose 1.5 percent, and transportation (other than T&E) workforce increased 0.7 percent.