Class I employment levels fell in January

(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/23/2021)

U.S. Class Is employed 113,461 people in mid-January, down 3.66% compared with December 2020’s employment levels and down 11.57% year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.

All workforce categories registered month-over-month employment decreases in January. They were transportation (train and engine), down 7.23% to 45,521 workers; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 2.89% to 18,085; transportation (other than train and engine), down 2.03% to 4,725; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.37% to 27,618; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.26% to 7,293; and professional and administrative, down 0.04% to 10,219.

Year over year, all categories marked fewer workers: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 20.14%; transportation (train and engine), down 11.97%; transportation (other than train and engine), down 11.62%; maintenance of way and structures, down 8.4%; professional and administrative, down 5.81%; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 4.14%.