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The U.S. Class I workforce grew a bit larger last month. As of mid-March, the workforce stood at 155,842, a 0.9 percent increase compared with February’s level and 4.4 percent rise compared with March 2010’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.

The only employment category that registered a month-over-month drop was transportation (other than train and engine), which declined 0.4 percent to 6,608. However, the segment increased 2.6 percent on a year-over-year basis.

The maintenance of way and structures workforce of 34,994 grew 2 percent from February’s level and 3.2 percent from March 2010’s count. Transportation (train and engine) employees numbered 62,627, up 0.8 percent month over month and 7.5 percent year over year.

As of mid-March, maintenance of equipment and stores workers numbered 28,783, up 0.5 percent vs. the previous month and 2.2 percent vs. the year-ago period.

Meanwhile, the professional and administrative staff of 13,650 inched up 0.1 percent from February’s level and increased 2 percent from March 2010’s count. The number of executives, officials and staff assistants also nudged up 0.1 percent on a month-over-month basis, to 9,180. The segment grew 1.1 percent year over year.