Transportation sector adds 2,000 jobs in October

Transportation employment increased by 2,000 jobs in October as the U.S. unemployment rate ticked up slightly in the final jobs report before Tuesday’s election.

Statistics released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed an increase of 171,000 jobs in October, increasing the national unemployment rate to 7.9 percent from a 7.8 percent mark last month.

The BLS report showed employment in the transportation sector increased from 4,400,000 in October to 4,397,800 last month. 

The sector with the highest number of gains in transportation according to the BLS was trucking, which increased by more than 3,000 jobs. Truck companies had 1,354,300 jobs in October, compared to 1,350,700 in September.

The second highest increase in transportation employment came in transit and ground passenger transportation, which went from 444,900 jobs in September to 447,100 jobs in October.

The bureau found employment in the aviation industry ticked down by nearly 2,000 jobs, going from 453,900 in September to 452,000 last month. Rail companies employed 229,800 people in October, compared to 230,400 in September.

The full BLS report can be read here.

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