U.S. Class I railway employment decline continues in October

Major freight railroads in the United States employed 151,900 workers as of the middle of October 2016, down 0.38 percent from the previous month and 8.28 percent year-over-year, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board.    Class I freight railroads in the United States employed 151,900 workers as of the middle of October 2016, an 8.28 percent decline from 165,606 employees during the same 2015 period, according to data from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).
   U.S. railway employment was down 0.38 percent from 152,486 workers in mid-September 2016.
   None of the various employment categories reported to the STB posted an increase from the previous month, and all six of them declined on a year-over-year basis as well.
   Class I railway executives, officials and staff assistants in October fell 0.6 percent from the previous month and 5.96 percent year-over-year; professional and administrative staff slipped 0.43 percent month-over-month and 7.29 percent from last year; maintenance of way and structures employees were down 0.69 percent and 6.04 percent, respectively; maintenance of equipment and stores workers slid 0.4 percent and 8.30 percent, respectively; while train and engine workers were down 0.11 percent from last month and 9.81 percent year-over-year and transportation staff (not including train and engine) fell 0.8 percent and 11.13 percent, respectively.