Transportation sector gains 23,000 jobs in December

The transportation sector gained 23,000 jobs in December as the national unemployment remained steady at 5 percent, according to statistics released by the Department of Labor on Friday.

The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said there were 4,832,700 jobs in transportation in December, compared to 4,809,600 in November. 

The increase was part of a 292,000 increase in overall jobs in December.

{mosads}The transportation sector with the highest employment increase over the busy holiday shipping season was couriers and messengers, which had 625,300 jobs in December, compared to 610,200 in November.

The biggest drop in employment in the sector was in support activities for transportation, which lost 1,800 jobs last month. 

The transit industry had 471,100 jobs in December, up from 469,400 in November.

The airline industry gained 900 jobs in December, going from 438,800 in November to 454,700 last month.

Railroads lost 300 jobs last month, going from 235,800 in November to 235,500 in December.

The trucking sector gained 5,300 jobs, going from 1,454,900 in November to 1,460,200 in December. 

The full December jobs report can be read here.