U.S. Class I workforce widened in March

U.S. Class Is as of mid-March employed 172,970 people, up 0.4 percent from the size of the workforce in mid-February and 6.1 percent from the employment level in mid-March 2014, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

On a month-over-month basis, growth occurred in nearly all workforce categories: executives, officials and staff assistants rose 0.4 percent to 9,950; maintenance of way and structures, 0.8 percent to 37,453; maintenance of equipment and stores, 0.4 percent to 31,234; transportation (other than train and engine), 0.9 percent to 6,670; and transportation (train and engine), 0.5 percent to 73,364. Only the professional and administrative workforce slipped, by a scant 0.05 percent, to 14,299.

On a year-over-year basis, all segments increased rather significantly except for transportation (other than T&E), which edged down 0.2 percent. The transportation (T&E) workforce jumped 10.7 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores sector climbed 5.1 percent; MOW and structures ranks increased 2.6 percent; professional and administrative staff rose 2.3 percent; and number of executives, officials and staff assistants grew 1.1 percent.