STB: Class Is employed fewer workers in August

(source: Progressive Railroading 09/22/2017)

Class Is employed 147,319 employees as of mid-August, down 3.56 percent year-over-year and 0.15 percent compared with mid-July employment numbers, according to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Five of the six employment categories reflected workforce decreases in mid-August compared with mid-July. The number of transportation (other than train and engine) employees declined 1.50 percent to 5,703; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.68 percent to 33,620; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.67 percent to 26,855;
executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.53 percent to 8,632; and professional and administrative, down 16 percent to 12,623.

Only the transportation (train and engine) category reflected an increase since mid-July, with the total number of employees climbing 0.57 percent to 59,886 workers.

On a year-over-year basis, all categories except transportation (T&E) reflected decreases. Professional and administrative fell 7.58 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 6.57 percent; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 5.69 percent; transportation (other than T&E), down 5.5 percent; and maintenance of equipment stores, down 5.08 percent.