Class I employment up for month and year
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefU.S. Class I railroad employment rose to 160,240 in mid-September, up 3.99% over September 2010 and 0.08% higher than in September 2010.
Employment was up in all categories compared with a year ago, according to the Surface Transportation Board.
Train crew numbers—transportation (train and engine)—were up 4.79% to 64,387.
The number of maintenance of way and structures workers was up 4.47% to 36,558; maintenance of equipment and stores employment was up 4.07% to 29,365.
Employment of executives, officials, and staff assistants increased 2.79% to 9,335; the number of professional and administrative workers rose 0.93% to 13,884.
The biggest Class I employer continued to be Union Pacific, with a payroll of 48,333 in September. BNSF employed 40,200; Norfolk Southern, 30,141; CSX, 28,527; CN/Grand Trunk, 6,142; Soo, 4,047; and KCS, 2,850.
