For-Hire Trucking Loses Jobs in September, Department of Labor Reports
Total transportation services and warehousing jobs rose in September by 3,500, but for-hire trucking lost 4,000 jobs compared with August, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Oct. 2.
Total non-farm payroll employment increased by 142,000 last month.
Bloomberg News said the addition of 142,000 jobs followed a revised 136,000 gain the prior month that was lower than previously estimated, a Labor Department report showed Oct. 2. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 96 economists called for a 201,000 advance. The jobless rate held at 5.1%, and wage growth was unchanged.
In August, total transportation services and warehousing jobs rose by 7,300, but for-hire trucking only accounted for 700 of those positions, according to the Department of Labor.
Thus far in 2015, job growth has averaged 198,000 per month compared with an average monthly gain of 260,000 in 2014. In September, job gains occurred in health care and information, while employment in mining continued to decline, the department report said.
Employment in mining dropped last month by 10,000, with losses concentrated in support activities for mining, which dropped by 7,000, the department said. Mining employment has declined by 102,000 since reaching a peak in December 2014.
The change in total non-farm payroll employment for July was revised to 223,000 from 245,000, and the change for August was revised to 136,000 from 173,000. With these revisions, employment gains in July and August combined were 59,000 less than previously stated. Over the past three months, job gains have averaged 167,000 per month, the Labor report said.
