advertisement

---

The U.S. Class Is began the year with a smaller workforce than they had both in mid-December and January 2007. As of mid-January 2008, the large roads employed a total of 162,902 people, a 0.8 percent decrease compared with mid-December's level and 2 percent drop from mid-January 2007's count, according to Surface Transportation Board employment data.

The maintenance of way and structures workforce, which stood at 33,925 in mid-January, registered the largest month-over-month decline at 2.3 percent. However, the workforce increased 1.1 percent year over year.

The transportation (other than train and engine service) staff totaling 6,739 dropped 1.4 percent from mid-December's level and declined 6.1 percent from mid-January 2007's count, while transportation (T&E) ranks totaling 67,898 fell 0.2 percent month over month and 4.5 percent year over year.

The maintenance of equipment and stores workforce, which stood at 30,405 in mid-January, decreased 1 percent from mid-December's level and 0.1 percent from mid-January 2007's count.

Meanwhile, executives, officials and staff assistants totaling 10,123 held steady vs. mid-December's level, but declined 0.8 percent year over year. The professional and administrative workforce reached 13,812, up slightly (by 0.2 percent) compared with both mid-December's and mid-January 2007's counts.