Rail employment down 15,685 in year

Between June 2008 and June 2008, Class I railroad employment in all categories declined 8.45% to 149,614, a loss of 15,685 jobs. Hardest hit was the transportation (train and engine) category, where the numbers dropped by 13,305 to 55,434, a 17.45% loss.

In other categories, employment of executives, officials, and staff assistants was down 0.02% from a year ago to 10,047; professional and administrative, down 3.13% to 13,276; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.72% to 35,382; and maintenance of equipment and stores, off 5.37% to 28,619.

The transportation (other than train and engine) group showed the only year-to-year increase, with numbers up 3.46% to 6,856.

Total June 2009 employment was down 1.27% from May 2009.

The Surface Transportation Board released the latest employment figures on Wednesday.