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After a one-month increase, the U.S. Class I workforce decreased slightly in August.

As of mid-August, the Class Is employed 164,268 workers, down 0.2 percent compared with mid-July's total, according to Surface Transportation Board data. In addition, the worker count dropped 1.6 percent vs. August 2007's level.

Professional and administrative staff totaling 13,584 posted the largest month-over-month decline at 1.3 percent. The workforce segment fell 2 percent vs. August 2007's level.

In addition, transportation (other than train and engine) ranks decreased 0.8 percent to 6,601; executives, officials and staff assistants dropped 0.4 percent to 10,105; and transportation (train and engine) workers declined 0.3 percent to 67,946 compared with mid-July totals. On a year-over-year basis, the workforce segments decreased 5.7 percent, 0.9 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, maintenance of equipment and stores workers in mid-August totaled 30,175, down 0.2 percent compared with mid-July's count and 0.5 percent vs. August 2007's level. The maintenance-of-way and structures segment, which totaled 35,857 workers, registered the only month-over-month gain at 0.1 percent. The segment's ranks also increased 0.3 percent vs. August 2007's level.