U.S. Class Is employed slightly fewer people in September, STB data shows

The U.S. Class I workforce shrank a tad in September from August's level. As of mid-September, the large roads employed 163,237 people, down 0.1 percent versus the previous month, according to data recently released by the Surface Transportation Board.

On a year-over-year basis, the Class I workforce increased 1.2 percent in September, maintaining a year-long trend.

Only two workforce segments posted gains versus August levels: maintenance of equipment and stores, which rose 0.6 percent to 29,498, and maintenance-of-way and structures, which ratcheted up 0.2 percent to 37,324. The number of professional and administrative staff dropped 2 percent to 13,764; level of transportation (other than train and engine) workers declined 0.9 percent to 6,715; amount of executives, officials and staff assistants decreased 0.7 percent to 9,752; and number of transportation (train and engine) employees shrank less than one-tenth of a percentage point to 66,184.

Year-over-year comparisons also show only two decliners: transportation (other than T&E), down 1.6 percent, and maintenance of equipment and stores, down 0.5 percent. The gains posted by the other four workforce segments versus September 2012 figures were 3.1 percent for transportation (T&E) and about 0.4 percent for the other three — professional and administrative staff; executives, officials and staff assistants; and maintenance-of-way and structures.