(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on December 21, 2009.)
The U.S. Class I workforce shrank some more last month, remaining well under 150,000. As of mid-November, the workforce stood at 147,097, down 1.3 percent from October’s level and 9.8 percent from November 2008’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.
Transportation (train and engine) workers numbered 56,447, representing a 1.3 percent dip from the previous month’s total and 15 percent drop from the year-ago level. The maintenance of way and structures workforce of 33,561 fel1 3.1 percent on a month-over-month basis and 6.3 percent on a year-over-year basis. The number of transportation (other than T&E) workers decreased 2 percent from November 2008’s level to 6,560, but increased 3.1 percent from October’s total.
Meanwhile, executives/officials/staff assistants totaled 9,077, down 0.3 percent from October’s level and 10.3 percent from November 2008’s count; and professional and administrative staff numbered 13,299, down 2.3 percent from October’s total and 1.6 percent from the year-ago count.