Class I Employment Rose in November

U.S. Class 1 railroad employment edged up in mid-November by 0.62 percent the Surface Transportation Board reported this week.

The railroads employed 118,944, an increase of 4.38 percent when compared to last year during the same period.

Five of six employment categories posted employment gains between October and November. They were: transportation (other than train and engine), up 1.34 percent to 4,779 employees; professional and administrative, up 1.11 percent to 9,998; executives, officials and staff assistants, up 0.96 percent to 8,030; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.77 percent to 17,774; and transportation (train and engine), up 0.74 percent to 49,934.

Losing ground was maintenance of way and structures, which fell 0.05 percent to 28,429 employees.

On a year-over-year comparison, all categories saw gains. This included executives, officials and staff assistants, up 10.29 percent; transportation (T&E), up 6.29 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 3.15 percent; transportation (other than T&E), up 2.8 percent; professional and administrative, up 2.47 percent; and maintenance of way and structures, up 1.31 percent

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