U.S. Class Is continued workforce trims in November

U.S. Class Is employed 164,241 people as of mid-November, down 0.8 percent compared with mid-October's level. On a year-over-year basis, the number of employees working for the largest U.S. freight railroads in mid-November was down 3.3 percent, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Compared on a month-over-month basis, the size of the workforce dropped in all employment categories: executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.6 percent to 9,609; professional and administrative, down 0.4 percent to 14,280; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.8 percent to 37,628; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.45 percent to 30,585; transportation (other than train and engine), down 1.3 percent to 6,613; and transportation (train and engine), down 1.1 percent to 65,526.

Three categories reflected slight increases in year-over-year comparisons: Professional and administrative rose 0.2 percent; maintenance of way and structures climbed 0.8 percent; and maintenance of equipment and stores increased 0.4 percent.

Employment categories that logged year-over-year decreases were executives, officials and staff assistants at 3.9 percent; transportation (other than T&E) at 1.3 percent; and transportation (T&E) at 7.8 percent.