Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on January Jobs Numbers
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following response to the figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor showing 157,000 jobs were added in January, marking the 35th consecutive month of private sector job growth. Overall unemployment rate was 7.8 percent and has been at or near that level since September 2012.
"With 12.3 million Americans still unemployed, with the long term unemployment rate at near record levels, and with African American unemployment still exceptionally high at 13.8 percent and Hispanics at 9.7 percent, we must accelerate job creation for the millions who trying to get back to work. Job creation leads to deficit reduction, and is necessary for a full economic recovery.
“As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue to negotiate a budget deal, targeted job-creating measures, including infrastructure spending, and accelerating public-sector job growth to re-hire teachers, firefighters, police officers and the long-term unemployed should be key components to keep our economy moving forward.”
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