STB: Class I employment slide continued in June

Class Is employed 148,627 workers in the United States as of mid-June, down 0.27 percent since mid-May's employment figure and down 2.49 percent compared with mid-June 2016's level, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Four out of six employment categories reflected workforce decreases in mid-June compared with mid-May levels. Those categories were executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.53 percent to 8,699 employees; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.34 percent to 34,042; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 1.54 percent to 27,300; and transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.34 percent to 5,805.

On a month-over-month basis, the number of professional and administrative employees rose 1.43 percent to 12,685, while transportation and engine (T&E) ranks increased 0.04 percent to 60,096.

On a year over year basis, all but one category reflected decreases. The number of executives, officials and staff assistants was down 6.32 percent; professional and administrative, down 8.11 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 6.17 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 4.98 percent; and transportation (other than T&E) down 5.5 percent. The number of T&E employees climbed 3.29 percent.