Class 1 Employment Up Slightly in March

Employment at U.S. Class I railroads rose in March over February’s level but declined when compared with March 2017.

In mid-March, U.S. Class Is employed 145,105 workers, up 0.2 percent compared with mid-February’s level, but down 2.8 percent compared with mid-March 2017’

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board said two of six employment categories reflected workforce increases on a month-over-month basis.

They were train and engine, up 0.8 percent to 60,297 employees; and maintenance of way and structures, up 0.6 percent to 32,433 workers.

Falling were executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.7 percent to 8,292; professional and administrative, down 0.9 percent to 11,938; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.6 percent to 26,589; and transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.6 to 5,556.

On a year-over-year basis, five of the six categories reflected decreases: professional and administrative, down 9.6 percent; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 8.5 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 4.9 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 4.9 percent; and maintenance of equipment and stores, down 4.8 percent.

Only the train and engine category reflected an increase — 1.9 percent — in mid-March compared with the same time last year.

Tags: Class 1 railroad employment, railroad employment, Railroad workers, STB employment figures, U.S. Class 1 Railroads, U.S. railroad employment