Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-October 2014 rose 3.75% to 169, 224, from mid-October 2013, and also added 521 positions from mid-September 2014, a rise of 0.31%.
Transportation (train and engine), again continuing a months-long trend of robust growth, rose 7.25% measured against levels of a year ago, also rising a more modest 0.57% from the prior month.
Other categories gaining year-over-year: Professional and Administrative, up 2.89%; Maintenance of equipment and stores, up 2.72%; and Executives, officials, and staff assistants, up 1.78%. As per September 2014, two categories declined year-over-year: Transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.27%, and Maintenance of way and structures, slipping 0.05%.
Maintenance of way and structures also fell in mid-October from the previous month, though barely, down just 0.01%. Otherwise, joining Transportation (train and engine) in the winners' column were: Professional and Administrative, up 0.35%; Transportation (other than train and engine), up 0.30%; Executives, officials, and staff assistants, up 0.22%; and Maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.11%.