U.S. Class I workforce shrank in August

(Source: Progressive Railroading 09/29/2021)

U.S. Class Is as of mid-August employed 114,431 people, down 1.07% from July’s employment total and down 2.83% year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

All six employment categories registered decreases in August compared with July’s data. They were: professional and administrative, down 2.32% to 9,853; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 1.79% to 17,205; transportation (other than train and engine), down 1.52% to 4,659; transportation (train and engine), down 0.82%; executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.68% to 7,271; and maintenance of way and structures, down 0.63% to 28,334.

Year over year, all categories except transportation (train and engine) logged decreases. They were: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 10.23%; transportation (other than train and engine), down 8.09%; professional and administrative, down 4.83%; maintenance of way and structures, down 3.73%; and executives, officials and staff assistants, down 2.94%.

The number of transportation (train and engine) employees rose 1.85% last month compared with August 2020.