Class I employment grew a bit in February

U.S. Class Is employed 114,068 people in mid-February, up 0.53% from mid-January but down 10.63% compared with employment during the same period a year ago, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Four of six employment categories registered employment increases in February compared with January's level. They were: maintenance of way and structures, up 1.19% to 27,948 workers; transportation (train and engine), up 0.6% to 45,794; transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.53% to 4,750; and maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.17% to 18,115.

Categories that posted month-over-month decreases were executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.37% to 7,266 employees, and professional and administrative, down 0.23% to 10,195.

Year over year, all categories logged fewer workers: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 18.29%; transportation (train and engine), down 10.99%; transportation (other than train and engine), down 10.65%; maintenance of way and structures, down 7.77%; professional and administrative, down 5.75%; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 4.09%.