Class 1 Employment Up in August

Employment in August at Class 1 railroads rose by 2.26 percent over the same level of August 2021.

Figures released by the U.S. Surface Transportation board showed the railroads employed 117,014 workers, which was a 0.52 percent increase from July’s employment level.

All but one out of six employment categories registered month-to-month increases.

They were transportation (train and engine), up 1.05 percent to 48,760 workers; transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.96 percent to 4,716; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 0.79 percent to 7,900; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.5 percent to 17,410; and maintenance of way and structures, up 0.07 percent to 28,437.

Seeing a decline was professional and administrative, which fell 1.15 percent to 9,791 employees.

On a year-over-year comparison, five of the six categories saw increases including executives, officials and staff assistants, up 8.65 percent; transportation (train and engine), up 3.5 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), up 1.22 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 1.19 percent; and maintenance of way and structures, up 0.36 percent.

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