LoginEmployment in the transportation sector has risen mostly steadily over the past four years, now beating even its peak number before the recession. Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the industry added 17,000 jobs in June, following a 12-month average of 11,000 new positions per month.
Last month's gains brought total employment in transportation up to 4,618,500 positions, 57,900 more jobs than were held in the industry before the 2008 recession. Compared to the lowest job figures posted during the financial crisis, employment in the industry has grown 12 percent.
Overdrive Online reported that more than 1.4 million jobs in the transportation sector belong to for-hire truck drivers, or those not employed by a private fleet. In June, the for-hire part of the sector gained 3,300 jobs, according to the news source. When the BLS released June's figures, it also revised the previous two months' job numbers, adding 500 to what was reported for April and 800 to May's reported growth.
The for-hire trucking segment of the industry has not yet recovered all of the jobs that it lost during the recession. Another 48,400 positions need to be filled before that milestone is reached.