Transportation sector loses 1,000 jobs in December

Transportation employment decreased by 1,000 jobs in December as the U.S. unemployment rate ticked up slightly.

Statistics released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed the national unemployment rate rose from 7.7 percent in November to 7.8 in December, despite an increase of 151,000 jobs in the month.

The BLS report showed employment in the transportation sector decreased from 4,4067,500 in November to 4,406,900 last month. 

{mosads}The loses ended a string of five months that saw increases in transportation employment following the approval of a $105 billion surface transportation bill by lawmakers last summer.

The sector added 6,400 jobs in November, 2,000 in October, 17,100 in September and 5,700 in August.

The sector with the highest number of gains in transportation employment in December, according to the BLS, was trucking, which increased by 4,200 jobs. Truck companies had 1,362,500 jobs in December, compared to 1,358,300 in November.

The second highest gain in transportation employment came in “support activities for transportation,” which went from 587,400 jobs in December to 584,800 jobs in November.

The largest decrease was couriers and messengers, which went from 524,500 jobs in November to 513,700 in December

The bureau found the aviation industry lost about 600 jobs, going from 4,407,500 in November to 4,406,900 last month. Rail companies employed 231,400 people in December, compared to 231,200 in November.

The full BLS report can be read here.