U.S. Class I railway employment falls in September

Class I freight railroads in the United States employed 146,673 workers as of the middle of September 2017, a 0.44 percent decline month-over-month and a 3.81 percent decline year-over-year, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board (STB).    Class I freight railroads across the United States employed 146,673 workers as of the middle of September 2017, a 3.81 percent decline from 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 0.44 percent from mid-August.
   Broken down by employment category in mid-September:
     • Class I railway executives, officials and staff assistants totaled 8,497, down 1.56 percent month-over-month and 7.09 percent year-over-year;
     • Professional and administrative employees totaled 12,393, down 1.82 percent month-over-month and 7.13 percent year-over-year;
     • Maintenance of way and structures employees totaled 33,483, down 0.41 percent month-over-month and 6.68 percent year-over-year;
     • Maintenance of equipment and stores employees totaled 26,740, down 0.43 percent month-over-month and 5.46 percent year-over-year;
     • Transportation employees (not including train and engine) totaled 5,678, down 0.44 percent month-over-month and 5.41 percent year-over-year;
     • And train and engine workers totaled 59,882, down 0.01 percent month-over-month and up 0.09 percent year-over-year.