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The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 5.9% (not seasonally adjusted) in August 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In August 2025, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 1.1 percentage points from 4.8% in August 2024. Unemployment in the transportation sector reached its highest level during the COVID-19 pandemic (15.7%) in May 2020 and July 2020.
Key takeaways:
· Seasonally adjusted, employment in the transportation and warehousing sector rose to 6,747,700 in August 2025, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 1.3% from August 2024.
- Air transportation fell to 580,100 in August 2025, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 2.5% from August 2024.
- Truck transportation fell to 1,523,000 in August 2025, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 0.4% from August 2024.
- Rail transportation remained virtually unchanged in August 2025 at 152,800 from the previous month but down 1.6% from August 2024.
- Water transportation rose to 71,900 in August 2025, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 2.6% from August 2024.
- Warehousing and storage remained virtually unchanged in August 2025 at 1,829,800 from the previous month but down 1.4% from August 2024.
