Transportation sector loses 20K jobs in January

The transportation sector lost 20,300 jobs in January as the national unemployment fell to 4.9 percent, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor on Friday.

The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said there were 4,869,000 jobs in transportation in January, compared to 4,889,300 in December. 

The decrease occurred despite a 151,000 increase in overall jobs in January.

{mosads}The transportation sector with the highest employment increase was trucking, which had 1,465,700 jobs in January, compared to 1,464,200 in December.

The biggest drop in employment in the sector was couriers and messengers, which lost 14,400 jobs last month as seasonal holiday hiring receded. 

The transit industry had 470,700 jobs in January, down from 473,000 in December.

The airline industry employment remained flat, coming in at 461,900 in January and December. 

Railroads lost 500 jobs last month, going from 229,300 in December to 228,800 in January.

The full January jobs report can be read here.