Trucking Adds 1,000 Jobs; Unemployment Rate Dips to 7.2%
The number of trucking jobs in the United States increased in September from August as the overall unemployment rate dipped to 7.2%, the lowest level since November 2008, the Labor Department reported Oct. 22.
Trucking jobs rose 1,000, and the transportation sector, which includes trucking, added 23,400 jobs. That followed an increase of 6,300 in August.
The report originally was scheduled to be released Oct. 4, but it was delayed by the 16-day partial federal government shutdown.
Overall, U.S. employers added 148,000 workers to payrolls. That followed a jobs gain of 193,000 in August, which was higher than originally reported.
Economists had forecast a 180,000 gain in payrolls, Bloomberg News reported. The unemployment rate was lower than economists’ forecast of a flat 7.3% rate.
“Hiring will remain modestly positive,” Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics, told Bloomberg. “The unemployment rate will come down very gradually. The shutdown came at an inopportune time,” he said.
Private payrolls rose by 126,000 following a 161,000 increase in August.
Construction added 23,000 jobs, and manufacturing jobs were little changed. Retailers added 20,800 jobs.
The unemployment rate is derived from a separate survey of households than the payrolls survey.
