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The U.S. Class Is continue to hire more workers to keep up with traffic demand. As of mid-September, the Class Is employed a total of 168,101 workers, a 0.5 percent increase compared with August and 2.7 percent rise compared with September 2005, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Maintenance of equipment and stores employees posted the largest month-over-month increase, rising 0.5 percent to 30,091 compared with mid-August’s total. The workforce segment also increased 0.6 percent compared with September 2005 data.

Maintenance of way and structures’ ranks rose 0.3 percent in September to 35,685. On a year-over-year basis, the segment increased 3.4 percent. Meanwhile, executives, officials and staff assistants rose 0.3 percent to 10,026 compared with mid-August’s ranks and climbed 5.5 percent compared with September 2005’s total.

However, three workforce segments posted month-over-month declines. Professional and administrative staff decreased 1.2 percent to 13,688, transportation (other than train and engine service) staff fell 0.2 percent to 7,279 and transportation (T&E) ranks dropped 0.01 percent to 71,332 compared with mid-August’s totals. On a year-over-year basis, professional and administrative staff increased 0.3 percent and the transportation (T&E) workforce rose 3.7 percent. Transportation (other than T&E) staff decreased 1.3 percent compared with September 2005 data.