Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-December 2014 rose 4.93% to 170,841, from mid-December 2013, and also added 96 positions from mid-November 2014, a rise of 0.59%.
Transportation (train and engine), again continuing its leadership role of job growth, rose 8.62% measured against levels of a year ago, also rising 0.89% from the prior month.
Leading the way in growth from the previous month of November 2014 was Maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.95%; the category also advanced a healthy 3.44% year-over-year.
Indeed, all categories gained year-over-year and from the previous month. Over the yearly span, Professional and Administrative rose 2.82%, Maintenance of way and structures gained 2.6%; Executives, officials, and staff assistants moved up 1.52%; and Transportation (other than train and engine) rose more modestly, up 0.68%.
Measured against November 2014, Professional and Administrative rose 0.2% in December; Executives, officials, and staff assistants advanced 0.13%; Maintenance of way and structures rose 0.08%; and Transportation (other than train and engine), again trailing the other gainers, moved up 0.03%.