U.S. Class I employment steady in December

Class Is employed 122,343 workers in the United States in mid-December 2023, a 0.01% decrease from November's count but a 2.49% increase over December 2022's level, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Four of six employment categories logged increases between November and December 2023. They were transportation (other than train and engine), up 1.32% to 4,895 employees; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.67% to 18,066; transportation (train and engine), up 0.19% to 52,419; and professional and administrative, up 0.09% to 10,310.

The two employment categories that posted month-over-month decreases were maintenance of way and structures, down 1% to 28,413 people; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.23% to 8,150.

Year over year, five of the six categories registered increases: transportation (train and engine), up 4.47%; transportation (other than train and engine), up 3.08%; professional and administrative, up 2.81%; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 1.91%; and maintenance of equipment and stores, up 1.41%.

The number of employees working in maintenance of way and structures declined 0.38% between December 2022 and December 2023.