Class 1 Rail Employment Up in October

U.S. Class 1 railroads employed 118,208 people as of mid-October, a 0.53 percent increase from mid-September employment levels and a 3.53 percent increase year over year, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board reported this week.

Five of six employment categories registered employment increases between September and October.

They included transportation (train and engine), up 0.81 percent to 49,569 employees; professional and administrative, up 0.8 percent to 9,888;  maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.47 percent to 17,639; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 0.44 percent to 7,954; and maintenance of way and structures, up 0.13 percent to 28,442.

Posting a decline was transportation (other than train and engine), which declined 0.04 percent to 4,716 employees.

On a year-over-year comparison, all categories posted increases. This included executives, officials and staff assistants, up 9.97 percent; transportation (train and engine), up 5.47 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 2.11 percent; professional and administrative, up 1.45 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.9 percent; and maintenance of way and structures, up 0.67 percent.

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