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After shrinking a tad in September, the U.S. Class I workforce got a touch smaller in October.

As of mid-October, the large roads employed a total of 165,307 people, a 0.5 percent decline compared with mid-September's level, according to Surface Transportation Board data. The workforce also shrunk 1.4 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Only one employment group posted a gain from September to October: professional and administrative staff, which increased 0.2 percent to 13,814. The workforce segment also grew 0.9 percent year over year.

The groups posting the biggest month-over-month drops include transportation (train and engine) workers, which totaled 68,594 or 0.9 percent fewer than mid-September's level; transportation (other than T&E) employees, which numbered 6,930 or 0.5 percent fewer; and executives, officials and staff assistants, which totaled 10,114 or 0.4 percent fewer. The transportation (other than T&E) and T&E workforces also declined 4.2 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, compared with October 2006's total, while executives, officials and staff assistant ranks increased 0.5 percent.

The maintenance-of-way and structures workforce totaled 35,516, representing a 0.2 percent decline compared with the previous month's level and 0.1 percent increase compared with October 2006's total. The maintenance of equipment and stores workforce totaling 30,339 fell 0.04 percent month over month but rose 0.7 percent year over year.