Rail employment slips in January
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefU.S. Class I railroad employment declined 0.71% to 153,304 in January compared with December 2010. but it was 4.37% above January 2010, reflecting a steady but slowing recovery from the depths of the recession.
The biggest employment category—transportation (train or engine) operating crews—had 61,275 workers in January, down 1.28% from December but 8.73% higher than in January 2010.
Maintenance-of-way and structures employment totaled 34,116 in January, down 1.44% from December but up 2.92% from January a year ago.
In other groups, the number of executives, officials, and staff assistants employed in January was 9,189, up 0.16% from December and 0.82% from January 2010; professional and administrative. 13,445, down 0.22% from December, up 0.40% from January 2010; maintenance of equipment and stores, 28,605, up 0.25% from December and 1.00% from January 2010; and transportation (other than train and engine), 5,674, up 2.11% from December and 1.78% from January 2010.
