Transportation sector gains 17K jobs in June

The transportation sector gained 17,100 jobs in June as the national unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in seven years, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor on Friday.

The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said there were 4,777,500 jobs in transportation in June, compared to 4,760,400 in May. 

The jump was part of a 223,000 increase in overall jobs in June that brought the nation’s unemployment rate down to 5.3 percent, the BLS said.

{mosads}The transportation sector with the highest employment increase was the trucking industry, which had 1,458,500 jobs in June, compared to 1,451,100 in May.

The biggest drop in employment in the sector was pipeline transportation, which lost 200 jobs last month. The category had 49,400 jobs in June, down from 49,600 in May.

The airline industry gained 700 jobs in June, going from 446,700 in May to 447,400 last month.

Long-distance rail companies also gained 700 jobs, going from 244,000 in May to 244,700 last month. 

The public transit industry, meanwhile, also gained 700 jobs, going from 473,200 in May to 473,900 last month.

The full June jobs report can be read here.