STB: Class I employment up a bit since January

As of mid-February, Class Is in the United States employed 144,815 workers, up 0.34 percent as of mid-January, but down 2.71 percent compared with mid-February 2017's employment, according to the Surface Transportation Board.

Five of six employment categories reflected workforce increases in mid-February compared with mid-January. Those categories were maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.69 percent to 26,746; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 0.33 percent to 7,856 employees; maintenance of way and structures, up 0.33 percent to 32,237; transportation (train and engine), up 0.27 percent to 59,847; and transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.18 percent to 5,591.

The professional and administrative employees category remained steady at 12,538 between mid-January and mid-February.

Five of the six categories reflected decreases last month when compared with mid-February 2017. They were executives, officials and staff assistants, down 13.65 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 5.37 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 5.03 percent; professional and administrative, down 5.02 percent; and maintenance of equipment and stores, down 4.28 percent.

Year over year, transportation (train and engine) rose 2.04 percent.