William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Aug 03, 2012 1:21PM EDT
Transportation and warehousing employment increased 1.9 percent year-over-year in July, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The number of transportation workers on company payrolls increased 0.2 percent in July from the previous month, the Labor Department agency said Friday.
That seasonally adjusted figure is a 5.6 improvement from February 2010, but still 4 percent below April 2008, the most recent peak month for transportation hiring.
The 6,900-job increase in transportation employment followed a loss of about 2,200 jobs in June and a 36,000-job hiring spree in May, according to BLS data.
Transport’s gain came as the U.S. economy added 163,000 jobs in July, more than expected but not enough to bring the unemployment rate below 8.3 percent.
Manufacturing employment increased by 25,000 jobs in July, primarily in durable goods manufacturing such as the motor vehicle and automotive parts industry.
Trucking added 3,000 jobs last month, the strongest growth in the transport sector, according to the BLS. Trucking’s payroll grew 3.3 percent year-over-year.
The water transport sector added 1,100 jobs, a 1.7 percent increase from June and a 9.8 percent from a year ago. The sector only employs about 67,500 workers.
Air transportation declined slightly from a year ago and was almost flat with June. Rail employment rose 2.2 percent from a year ago and was flat with June.
Warehousing and storage businesses added about 1,000 jobs, a 1.6 percent increase from a year ago and 0.2 percent from June, according to the BLS data.
Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @wbcassidy_joc.
