February 2024 U.S. transportation sector unemployment rises above the February 2023 Level

The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 5.9% (not seasonally adjusted) in February 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These data have been updated on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Unemployment in Transportation dashboard. In February 2024, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 1.2 percentage points from 4.7% in February 2023 and was above the pre-pandemic February 2019 level of 4.3%. 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 February 2024 was 4.2% or 1.7 percentage points below the transportation sector rate. Seasonally adjusted, the U.S. unemployment rate in February 2024 was 3.9%.

Seasonally adjusted, employment in the transportation and warehousing sector rose to 6,511,400 in February 2024 — up 0.3% from the previous month but down 1.2% from February 2023. Employment in transportation and warehousing grew 16.9% in February 2024 from the pre-pandemic February 2019 level of 5,571,900. By mode (seasonally adjusted):

• Air transportation rose to 573,400 in February 2024 — up 0.7% from the previous month and up 7.0% from February 2023.
• Truck transportation remained virtually unchanged in February 2024 at 1,551,200 from the previous month but down 1.8% from February 2023.
• Transit and ground passenger transportation rose to 432,300 in February 2024 — up 0.5% from the previous month and up 1.4% from February 2023.
• Rail transportation fell to 152,800 in February 2024 — down 0.1% from the previous month but up 0.9% from February 2023.
• Water transportation rose to 72,700 in February 2024 — up 0.6% from the previous month and up 7.9% from February 2023.
• Pipeline transportation rose to 52,500 in February 2024 — up 0.2% from the previous month and up 1.4% from February 2023.
• Warehousing and storage fell to 1,758,700 in February 2024 — down 0.4% from the previous month and down 4.9% from February 2023.