Rail employment up 5.23% at end of year
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Surface Transportation Board reported Thursday that U.S. Class I railroad employment totaled 154,400 in December, up 5.23% from December 2009 but down 0.41% from November 2010.
The transportation (train and engine) category posted the strongest gains, reaching a level of 62,067 in December—up 9.231% from December 2009 and up 0.40% from November 2010.
In other categories, employment of executives, officials and staff was up 1.22% from the prior year to 9,174; professional and administrative, up 1.35% to 13,474; maintenance-of way-and structures, up 6.03% to 34,614; maintenance of equipment and stores, up 0.67% to 29,535; and transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.14% to 6,536.
