Class I employment gains again in July
Written by Douglas John BowenFigures released by the Surface Transportation Board show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-July 2014 rose 1.94% to 167, 138, from mid-July 2013, and also added 99 positions from mid-June 2014, a rise of 0.6%.
Transportation (train and engine), continuing a months-long trend of robust growth, rose 3.82% measured against levels of a year ago, and rose 1.18% from the prior month.
Categories gaining year-over-year also included Executives, officials, and staff assistants, up 1.23% from July 2013, Professional and Administrative, up 1.38%, and Maintenance of equipment and stores, up 1.82%. Two categories declined from employment levels of one year ago: Maintenance of way and structures, down 0.43%, and Transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.62%.
STB reported other categories marking monthly gains in July over mid-June included Executives, officials, and staff assistants, up 0.68%, Maintenance of way and structures, up 0.44%, Maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.12%, and Transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.1% from the previous month. Only Professional and Administrative employment declined in July relative to the prior month, down 0.5%.
