U.S. Class I employment levels down slightly in October

Class Is operating in the United States employed 122,393 people as of mid-October, a 0.06% decrease compared with September but a 3.54% increase year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Four of six employment categories logged employment decreases last month compared with mid-September counts. They included maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.71% to 18,003 employees; executives officials and staff assistants, down 0.12% to 8,226; professional and administrative, down 0.1% to 10,285; and maintenance of way and structures, down 0.09% to 28,868.

The two categories that logged increases last month were transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.26% to 4,933, and transportation (train and engine), up 0.17% to 52,078.

Year over year, all six employment categories registered increases: transportation (train and engine), at 5.06%; transportation (other than train and engine), 4.6%; professional and administrative, 4.01%; executives, officials and staff assistants, 3.42%; maintenance of equipment and stores, 2.06%; and maintenance of way and structures, 1.5%.