WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.9% (not seasonally adjusted) in July 2023 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
These data have been updated on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Unemployment in Transportation dashboard.
In July 2023, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 0.7 percentage points from 4.2% in July 2022 and was above the pre-pandemic July 2019 level of 4.2%, according to a news release.
Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020.
Unemployment in the transportation sector was higher than overall unemployment. BLS reports that the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, in July 2023 was 3.8% or 1.1 percentage points below the transportation sector rate. Seasonally adjusted, the U.S. unemployment rate in July 2023 was 3.5%.
Seasonally adjusted, employment in the transportation and warehousing sector fell to 6,721,500 in July 2023 — down 0.1% from the previous month but up 0.3% from July 2022.
Employment in transportation and warehousing grew 18.2% in July 2023 from the pre-pandemic July 2019 level of 5,688,000.
By mode, the seasonally adjusted numbers are:
- Air transportation jobs rose to 543,700 in July 2023 — up 0.5% from the previous month and up 6.7% from July 2022.
- Truck transportation jobs fell to 1,604,300 in July 2023 — down 0.2% from the previous month but up 0.5% from July 2022.
- Transit and ground passenger transportation fell to 436,000 in July 2023 — down 0.2% from the previous month but up 4.7% from July 2022.
- Rail transportation rose to 150,400 in July 2023 — up 0.1% from the previous month and up 2.9% from July 2022.
- Water transportation fell to 66,900 in July 2023 — down 2.5% from the previous month but up 1.2% from July 2022.
- Pipeline transportation fell to 47,100 in July 2023 — down 0.2% from the previous month and down 6.2% from July 2022.
- Warehousing and storage fell to 1,899,500 in July 2023 — down 0.3% from the previous month and down 2.9% from July 2022.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
