Class I September employment down a bit from August count

(Source: Progressive Railroading 10/21/2020)

Class Is as of mid-September employed 118,123 people, down 0.3% from mid-August’s level and down 13.69% from September 2019’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.

Four of six employment categories logged decreases last month compared with August.

The categories month-to-month decreases were: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 1.6 percent to 18,859 workers; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.95%; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.61% to 7,445; and professional and administrative, down 0.35% to 10,317.

Two categories posted month-to-month increases. They were transportation (train and engine), up 1.7% to 47,037 workers, and maintenance of way and structures, 0.04% to 28,444.

On a year-over-year basis, all categories reflected employment decreases. They were: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 21.81%; transportation (train and engine), down 17.65%; transportation (other than train and engine) down 8.28%; professional and administrative, down 6.63%; maintenance of way and structures, down 6.48%; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 2.36%.

By individual railroad, the STB’s U.S. Class I workforce data shows that as of mid-September: BNSF Railway Co. employed 36,932 people; CSX, 17,241; CN/Grand Trunk, 6,246; Kansas City Southern, 2,659; Norfolk Southern Railway, 19,432; Canadian Pacific Soo Line, 2,656; and Union Pacific Railroad, 32,957.