Compiled figures released this week by the Surface Transportation Board show Class I railroads employed 162,810 people in mid-December, up a scant 0.10% from December 2012, but down 0.24% from the previous month of November.
STB's compiled data appears to have nearly caught up with the agency's normal schedule, disrupted by the partial shutdown of the federal government occurring through much of last October.
Only two out of six categories gained ground year-over year, including Transportation (train and engine), up 1.15%, and Maintenance of way and structures, up 0.43%. Transportation (other than train and engine) retreated the most in December, down 1.63%.
But Maintenance of way and structures led the month-over-month decline, down a significant 2.05% in December from November. Transportation (other than train and engine) registered the only other monthly decline, down 0.61%.
Leading the gainers month-over-month was Maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.48%. Transportation (train and engine) rose 0.36% from November.