Class Is' total employment down a bit in November

Class Is operating in the United States employed 122,356 people as of mid-November, a 0.03% decrease compared with October’s level but a 2.87% increase year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Four of six employment categories registered decreases in November compared with October figures. They were: executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.69% to 8,169 employees; maintenance of way and structures, -0.58% to 28,700; maintenance of equipment and stores, -0.32% to 17,945; and transportation (other than train and engine), -0.26% to 4,920.

The two categories that logged month-over-month increases were transportation (train and engine), up 0.47% to 52,321 employees; and professional and administrative, up 0.16% to 10,301.

Year over year, all six categories posted increases: transportation (train and engine), 4.78%; professional and administrative, 3.03%; transportation (other than train and engine), 2.95%; executives, officials and staff assistants, 1.73%; maintenance of equipment and stores, 0.96%; and maintenance of way and structures, 0.95%.