U.S. Class I railway employment slips in August

Class I freight railroads in the United States employed 147,319 workers in August, down 0.15 percent from July and a 3.56 percent drop from August 2016, according to the Surface Transportation Board.

   Class I freight railroads in the United States employed 147,319 workers as of the middle of August, down 0.15 percent from 147,540 employees one month earlier, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
   The August result was also a 3.56 percent drop from 168,788 employees 12 months prior.
   Broken down by employment category, in mid-August:
     • Class I railway executives, officials and staff assistants totaled 8,632, down 0.53 percent month-over-month and 5.69 percent year-over-year;
     • Professional and administrative employees totaled 12,623, down 0.16 percent month-over-month and 7.58 percent year-over-year;
     • Maintenance of way and structures employees totaled 33,620, down 0.68 percent month-over-month and 6.57 percent year-over-year;
     • Maintenance of equipment and stores employees totaled 26,855, down 0.67 percent month-over-month and 5.08 percent year-over-year;
     • Transportation employees (excluding train and engine) totaled 5,703, down 1.5 percent month-over-month and 5.5 percent year-over-year;
     • And train and engine workers totaled 59,886, up 0.57 percent month-over-month and 0.43 percent year-over-year.