STB: U.S. Class I workforce dipped in December

U.S. Class Is employed 147,620 workers as of mid-December 2018, down 0.9 percent compared with mid-November's level, but up 1.5 percent compared with mid-December 2017's count, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

On a month-over-month basis, no employment categories reflected increases. The executives, officials and staff assistants category was down 0.6 percent to 8,243 employees; professional and administrative, down 1.1 percent to 11,701; maintenance of way and structures, down 1.6 percent to 31,876; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.7 percent to 27,314; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.8 percent to 5,652; and transportation (train and engine), down 0.7 percent to 62,834.

On a year-over-year basis, only two workforce categories reflected decreases: professional and administrative, down 3.7 percent; and maintenance of way and structures, down 1.8 percent.

Categories that registered gains were transportation (train and engine), up 3.9 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 2.7 percent; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 1.5 percent; and transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.5 percent.