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U.S. Class Is’ traffic is off a tad from last year, but they continue to hire more people. As of mid-April, the large roads employed a total of 167,278 people, up 0.2 percent compared with mid-March’s level and 0.9 percent compared with April 2006’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board data.

Executives, officials and staff assistants totaling 10,213 posted the largest year-over-year increase at 5.5 percent. The workforce segment also rose 0.3 percent compared with mid-March.

Maintenance-of-way and structures staff totaling 35,081 increased 1.1 percent from mid-March and 0.8 percent from April 2006. The only other workforce segment to post gains — maintenance of equipment and stores — reached a total of 30,463, up 0.3 percent month over month and 1.2 percent year over year.

Transportation (other than train and engine service) ranks tumbled to 7,194, down 0.1 percent from mid-March and 2.6 percent from April 2006. Professional and administrative staff totaling 13,818 fell 0.1 percent compared both with the previous month and same 2006 period.

Meanwhile, the transportation (T&E) workforce totaled 70,509, down 0.3 percent compared with mid-March but up 0.7 percent compared with April 2006.