Class 1 Employment Fell in December

Employment at U.S. Class 1 railroads fell 3.66 percent in January when compared to December figures.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board said the railroads employed 113,461 people in mid-January, a number that was 11.57 percent lower when compared to the same period in 2019.

All workforce categories registered month-over-month declines in January.

This included transportation (train and engine), down 7.23 percent to 45,521 workers; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 2.89 percent to 18,085; transportation (other than train and engine), down 2.03 percent to 4,725; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.37 percent to 27,618; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.26 percent to 7,293; and professional and administrative, down 0.04 percent to 10,219.

Year over year, all categories posted declines including maintenance of equipment and stores, down 20.14 percent; transportation (train and engine), down 11.97 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 11.62 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 8.4 percent; professional and administrative, down 5.81 percent; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 4.14 percent.

Tags: Class 1 railroad employment, STB employment figures, U.S. Surface Transportation Board