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The U.S. Class I workforce got a tad smaller in April. As of April 15, the workforce stood at 154,263, representing a 0.5 percent decrease from mid-March’s level and 6.3 percent drop from April 2008’s count, according to the Surface Transportation Board’s most recent employment data.

Transportation (train and engine) ranks declined 1.8 percent from mid-March’s level to 58,806. The workforce segment also shrank a whopping 14.2 percent from April 2008’s count.

The transportation (other than T&E) workforce as of mid-April totaled 6,992, down 1.6 percent compared with mid-March’s level, but up 5.6 percent vs. April 2008’s total. Maintenance of way and structures ranks totaling 35,377 posted the only month-over-month and year-over-year gains at 2 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

For more breakdowns of the STB’s employment data, follow this link to download a pdf file of April figures.