U.S. transportation and logistics companies added another 400 jobs in April, slowing significantly from the rapid growth seen in the previous three months, according to the latest preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The April growth figures followed revised gains of 15,700 jobs in March, 17,800 positions in February and 15,300 jobs in January.
Employment gains in the sector during the month were led by the courier and messengers and warehousing and storage segments, which added 6,300 and 6,000 positions, respectively, compared with the previous month.
Other segments that saw increases in employment included air transportation, up 600 jobs, and pipeline and water transportation, up 500 jobs each.
Those gains were offset in part by declines in the rail, truck, transit and ground passenger, scenic and sightseeing, and support activities for transportation segments, which shed 800, 5,500, 800, 1,600 and 4,800 jobs, respectively.
Total U.S. non-farm payroll employment increased by 164,000 in April compared with the previous month, and the unemployment rate edged down slightly to 3.9 percent, according to BLS.