Transportation sector loses 14,000 jobs in January

Transportation employment decreased by 14,200 jobs in January 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 7.8 percent in December to 7.9 in January, despite an increase of 157,000 jobs in the month.

The BLS report showed employment in the transportation sector decreased from 4,501,500 in December to 4,487,300 last month. 

The losses mark the second consecutive month of transportation job decreases after a string of five months that saw increases in employment in the sector.

The transportation industry added 6,400 jobs in November, 2,000 in October, 17,100 in September and 5,700 in August following the passage of a $105 billion surface transportation bill last summer.

The sector with the highest number of gains in transportation employment in January, according to BLS, was trucking, which increased by 5,000 jobs. Truck companies had 1,375,100 jobs in January, compared to 1,370,100 in December.

The second-highest gain in transportation employment came in transit and ground passenger transportation, which went from 461,800 jobs in December to 464,800 jobs in January.

The largest decrease was for couriers and messengers, which went from 562,400 jobs in December to 543,900 in January.

The bureau found the aviation industry lost 4,900 jobs, going from 4,501,500 in December to 4,487,300 last month. Rail companies employed 231,300 people in January, compared to 230,700 in December.

The full BLS report can be read here.

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