Transportation sector gains 1,900 jobs in September

The transportation sector gained 1,900 jobs in September as the national unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since 2008, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor on Friday.

The department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said there were 4,644,600 jobs in transportation in September, compared to 4,642,700 in August. 

The jump was part of an increase of 248,000 overall jobs in September that resulted in the U.S. unemployment rate being reduced to 5.9 percent, the department said.

{mosads}The transportation sector with the highest employment increase was couriers and messengers, which gained 4,800 jobs in September. The sector had 577,600 jobs in September, up from 572,800 in August.

The biggest drop in employment in the transportation sector took place in the public transit and ground passenger transportation industries, which lost 9,300 jobs last month. The category had 455,700 jobs in September, down from 465,000 in August.

The airline industry lost 300 jobs in September, going from 465,400 in August to 465,100 last month. 

Elsewhere, the trucking industry gained 3,800 jobs in September, going from 1,410,000 in August to 1,413,800 last month. 

Long-distance and freight rail gained 1,300 jobs last month, going from 238,500 in August to 239,800 in September. 

The full jobs report can be read here.