Train and engine service employment on the nations major, or Class I, railroads in November fell to its lowest point over the past 12 months, according to Surface Transportation Board data.
The number of Class I train and engine service employees fell 15 percent since November 2008, to 56,477 in November 2009.
Total Class I rail employment has declined almost 10 percent since November 2008, to 147,047. Compared with 1967, which is the base year for STB data collection, total Class I employment is down some 75 percent 147,047 in November 2008 versus 593,568 in 1967.
The highpoint for Class I employment was 1.7 million in 1929, and was as high as 1.4 million in 1947. Class I employment has fallen steadily since 1947.
Comparing November 2009 with November 2008, all categories of Class I railroad employment declined: executives, officials, and staff assistants, down 10.3 percent; professional and administrative, down 1.6 percent; maintenance of way and structures, down 6.3 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 7.4 percent; transportation (other than train and engine), down 2 percent; and train and engine service, down 15 percent.
