Transportation sector gains 3,500 jobs in September

The transportation sector gained 3,500 jobs in September as the national unemployment remained steady at 5.1 percent, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor on Friday.

The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said there were 4,797,800 jobs in transportation in September, compared to 4,794,300 in August. 

The jump was part of a 142,000 increase in overall jobs in September that allowed the nation’s unemployment rate to hold steady at 5.1 percent in September, the BLS said.

{mosads}The transportation sector with the highest employment increase was couriers and messengers, which had 599,300 jobs in September, compared to 596,300 in August.

The biggest drop in employment in the sector was in trucking, which lost 4,000 jobs last month. The truck industry had 1,452,400 jobs in September, down from 1,456,400 in August. 

The airline industry gained 1,600 jobs in September, going from 451,500 in August to 452,700 last month.

Railroad employment held steady at 239,600 jobs, unchanged from August. 

The public transit industry, meanwhile, lost 1,200 jobs, going from 476,100 in August to 474,900 last month.

The full September jobs report can be read here.