U.S. Class I railway employment declines in May

Class I freight railroads in the United States employed 149,032 workers as of the middle of May 2017, down 0.05 percent month-over-month and 2.4 percent year-over-year.    Class I freight railroads across the United States employed 149,032 workers as of the middle of May 2017, a 2.4 percent decline from 152,726 employees during the same 2016 period, according to data from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).
   On a sequential basis, U.S. Class I employment fell 0.05 percent from 149,107 workers in mid-April.
   Broken down by employment category in mid-May:
     • Class I railway executives, officials and staff assistants totaled 8,745, down 1 percent month-over-month and 5.7 percent year-over-year;
     • Professional and administrative employees totaled 12,506, down 1.3 percent month-over-month and 8.6 percent year-over-year;
     • Maintenance of way and structures employees totaled 34,158, down 0.2 percent month-over-month and 6.1 percent year-over-year;
     • Maintenance of equipment and stores employees totaled 27,726, down 0.4 percent month-over-month and 4.7 percent year-over-year;
     • Transportation employees (not including train and engine) totaled 5,825, down 0.4 percent month-over-month and 5.9 percent year-over-year;
     • And train and engine workers totaled 60,072, up 0.6 percent month-over-month and 3.4 percent year-over-year.