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The U.S. Class I workforce continued to enlarge last month. As of mid-May, the large roads employed 157,522 people, up 0.5 percent from April’s level and 4.4 percent from May 2010’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.

On a month-over-month basis, only two of six employment categories registered declines, and small ones at that: professional and administrative staff, 0.2 percent to 13,546, and executives/officials/staff assistants, 0.1 percent to 9,231. The maintenance of way and structures workforce increased 1.3 percent to 36,026; maintenance of equipment and stores ranks rose 0.4 percent to 28,963; transportation (train and engine) workforce expanded 0.3 percent to 63,078; and transportation (other than T&E) ranks inched up 0.2 percent to 6,678.

On a year-over-year basis, all the categories posted gains: transportation (train and engine), 6.7 percent; maintenance of way and structures, 3.7 percent; executives/officials/staff assistants, 2.8 percent; maintenance of equipment and stores, 2.6 percent; transportation (other than T&E), 2.5 percent; and professional and administrative staff, 1.8 percent.

For more STB workforce data as of mid-May, follow this link to download a pdf file.