STB: Class I workforce up slightly in mid-April

As of mid-April, U.S. Class Is employed 145,959 workers, up 0.59 percent since mid-March, but down 2.11 percent compared with April 2017, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

All but one employment category — professional and administrative — reflected slight increases in the workforce on a month-over month basis. Categories that logged increases since mid-March were executives, officials and staff assistants, up 0.07 percent to 8,298 workers; maintenance of way and structures, up 0.65 percent to 32,644; maintenance of equipment and stores up 0.22 percent to 26,647; transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.18 percent to 5,566; and transportation (train and engine), up 0.99 percent to 60,891.

The professional and administrative category dropped 0.21 percent to 11,913 employees compared with the previous month.

On a year-over-year basis, all but one category — transportation (train and engine) — reflected decreases. Categories that posted declines since mid-April 2017 were executives and staff assistants, down 6.05 percent; professional and administrative, down 5.98 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 4.6 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 4.32 percent; and transportation (other than train and engine), down 4.84 percent.

The transportation (train and engine) workforce category rose 2.02 percent in mid-April compared with the same month a year ago.