U.S. Class I railway employment continues to decline

Major freight railroads in the United States employed 154,212 workers as of the middle of February, down 1.53 percent from the previous month and 10.44 percent year-over-year, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board.    Class I freight railroads in the United States employed 154,212 workers as of the middle of February, a 10.44 percent decline from 172,195 employees during the same 2015 period, according to data from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).
   Class I railway employment was also down 1.53 percent from 156,602 workers in mid-January 2016.
   Each of the various employment categories reported to the STB posted decreases from the previous month as well as year-over-year.
   Executives, officials and staff assistants were down 0.70 percent from mid- January and 5.07 percent compared to February 2015; professional and administrative staff fell 0.34 percent and 1.88 percent, respectively; maintenance of way and structures employees dipped 0.04 percent and 3.62 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores workers were down 0.97 percent and 4.66 percent; transportation staff (not including train and engine) fell 2.69 percent and 4.12 percent; while train and engine workers were down 2.96 percent month-over-month and 19.36 percent year-over-year.