The number of job gains showed no signs of easing up in June, as the Labor Department reports strong additions, with hiring better than previously estimated.
Economic Watch: Employment Growth Remains Strong
The number of job gains showed no signs of easing up in June, as the Labor Department reports strong additions, with hiring better than previously estimated.

There were 222,000 non-farm jobs added last month, far better than a consensus estimate from analysts. The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.4% as more people looked for jobs.
Despite the overall gain in June, for-hire trucking shed 1,400 jobs in June. The wider transportation and warehousing sector added 2,400 jobs, due mainly to gains in couriers/messengers and passenger transportation.
The department also revised upward the performance of job gains in May and April, reflecting an additional 47,000 jobs for the two months combined.
Unemployment is down half a percent from a year ago – double that when including sources of hidden unemployment such as discouraged workers, according to Nathan Janzen, senior economist at RBC Economics Research.
“Wage growth has moderated somewhat year-to-date but ticked higher in June, with an increasingly tight labor market arguing more gains are on the way,” he said. “On balance, the labor force data continues to suggest that the economy is having little difficulty absorbing Federal Reserve [interest] rate hikes to-date and should provide additional confidence that more are warranted.”
Overall in June, employment rose in the health care, social assistance, financial activities, and mining sectors. Employment growth has averaged 180,000 per month so far this year, in line with the average monthly gain of 187,000 in 2016.
Wells Fargo Securities noted in the goods sector, manufacturing employment posted a small gain, while hiring in construction was up a solid 16,000 jobs, likely reflecting some seasonal improvement.
“Our outlook remains for a rebound in real gross domestic product growth in the second quarter and gains of roughly 2.5% to 3% percent for the second half of this year,” said John E. Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities.
The report follows a separate one from payroll processor ADP the day before that showed 158,000 private sector jobs were added in June, while the May total of jobs added was revised down from 253,000 to 230,000.
“The job market continues to power forward. Abstracting from the monthly ups and downs, job growth remains a stalwart between 150,000 and 200,000,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “At this pace, which is double the rate of labor force growth, the tight labor market will continue getting tighter.”
More Fleet Management

FTR Trucking Conditions Index Hits Four-Year High in February
Strong freight rates push TCI to 10.2, but FTR expects fuel-price volatility to skew March results.
Read More →
C.H. Robinson Offers Carriers Relief as Diesel Prices Surge
C.H. Robinson is waiving fees on fuel cards and cash advances for April and May, aiming to help carriers offset rising diesel costs tied to geopolitical instability.
Read More →
What Trucking Events are Happening in 2026?
Looking for trucking-related conventions, expos, and other events? Heavy Duty Trucking has developed this list of national and larger regional trucking shows and events.
Read More →
Volvo’s Quiet Confidence Turns into a Full-Throated Bet on the Future
After years of steady, methodical progress, Peter Voorhoeve says the OEM’s latest lineup isn’t just evolutionary. It’s delivering real, measurable gains for fleets right now.
Read More →
BeyondTrucks Targets Rate Complexity with New AI RateAgents
BeyondTrucks says its new RateAgents can turn plain-language rate logic into working code, starting with fuel surcharges — a critical but notoriously complex piece of carrier revenue.
Read More →
Volvo Sees Market ‘Tipping Point’ as New VNL Orders Surge
Soft freight conditions persist, but aging fleets, strong order intake, and new-product momentum signal a more optimistic second half of 2026, Volvo Trucks North America says.
Read More →
Cargo Theft’s New Playbook: Strategic Fraud, Double Brokering, and Cybercrime Hit Trucking
Cargo theft is evolving from regional smash-and-grab operations to sophisticated fraud schemes. Strategic theft now accounts for roughly a third of cargo crime, with incidents rising sharply in recent years. Here’s how the schemes work — and what fleets can do to protect themselves.
Read More →
HDT Honors the Best New Products of 2025 at TMC [Photos]
Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.
Read More →
Detroit Engines: Trusted Performance, Built for What's Next
The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.
Read More →
Q&A: What's Real in Advanced Truck Tech? ACT Expo's Erik Neandross Weighs In
The 2026 ACT Expo is focusing heavily on what organizer Erik Neandross calls trucking's digital frontier. This interview excerpt dives into artificial intelligence, zero-emission vehicles, and tips to make sense of it all.
Read More →
