U.S. Class I workforce widened slightly in March

The U.S. Class I workforce grew a tad last month. As of mid-March, the large roads employed 162,968 people, a 0.4 percent increase compared with February's level, according to Surface Transportation Board employment data.

The executives/officials/staff assistants workforce segment was the only one of six categories to post a month-over-month drop, decreasing 0.2 percent to 9,842, while the number of professional and administrative staff members was relatively flat at 13,972. The other four categories posted gains versus February figures: maintenance-of-way and structures, 1.2 percent to 36,506; transportation (other than train and engine), 0.6 percent to 7,687; transportation (train and engine), 0.2 percent to 66,243; and maintenance of equipment and stores, 0.1 percent to 29,718.

On a year-over-year basis, the total workforce was essentially flat, declining less than a tenth of a percent. Four sectors posted significant drops compared with March 2013 data: professional and administrative at 1.4 percent, maintenance of equipment and stores at 1.1 percent, transportation (other than T&E) at 1 percent, and maintenance-of-way and structures at 0.6 percent.

However, the number of transportation (T&E) workers climbed 1 percent and number of executives/officials/staff assistants rose 0.6 percent.