Class Is employed fewer workers in January

Class Is employed 128,311 workers as of mid-January, down 2.41 percent compared with mid-December's level and down 12.45 percent compared with the year-ago employment level, U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) data shows.

Five of six workforce categories posted month-to-month decreases. They were: executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.18 percent to 7,608 employees; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.43 percent to 22,647; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.91 percent to 5,346; maintenance of way and structures, down 2.04 percent to 30,152; and transportation (train and engine), down 4.48 percent to 51,709.

Professional and administrative was the only category to post a month-to-month increase, which was 0.35 percent to 10,849 employees.

On a year-over-year basis, all categories posted decreases. They were: maintenance of way and structures, down 3.99 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 4.21 percent; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 6.91 percent; professional and administrative, down 7.53 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 16.49 percent; and transportation (train and engine), down 17.33 percent.