Class I employment level remained flat in March

(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/28/2020)

Class Is employed 127,867 workers as of mid-March, up 0.18 percent since mid-February, but down 11.78 percent compared with March 2019’s employment level, Surface Transportation Board data shows.

Four of six employment categories logged month-to-month decreases. They were: professional and administrative, down 0.66 percent to 10,746 employees; transportation maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.49 percent to 22,062; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.19 percent to 5,306; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.11 percent to 7,568.

The two categories that posted month-to-month increases were transportation (train and engine), up 0.68 percent to 51,801 employees; and maintenance of way and structures, up 0.26 percent to 30,384.

Year over year, all categories logged decreases. They were: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 16.68 percent; transportation (train and engine), down 16.01 percent; professional and administrative, down 5.93 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 4.64 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 4.98 percent; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 4.54 percent.