August employment numbers worst in a year, as nation 'celebrates' Labor Day
Lead Summary
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"The Labor Department's monthly report is the worst showing in a year and offers stark evidence that hiring has stalled," the Los Angeles Times reported today.
"The U.S. economy added no new jobs in August, as employers cut back hiring and trimmed work hours of existing employees. About 14 million people were officially unemployed in August."
Meanwhile, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the August 2011 Employment Situation report released today:
"The private sector added 17,000 jobs in August, but those gains were offset by the loss of 17,000 government jobs," Solis said. "Total non-farm unemployment, therefore, was unchanged last month. The unemployment rate also remained unchanged at 9.1 percent.
"Consumer confidence dropped sharply last month as Congress took the nation to the brink of default. We knew that this legislative gridlock was going to have repercussions, and the hiring slowdown reflected in today's report shows the real-life consequences that political gamesmanship has on business decisions and workers' lives. These numbers are a stark reminder that actions — and inaction — on Capitol Hill have consequences."
Solis also touted the president's latest plan to create jobs.
"Next Thursday, President Obama will outline a bipartisan plan to create jobs and generate growth that pulls the best ideas from both political parties. If Congress is serious about job creation, the package will pass," Solis said, and called on citizens to contact Congress, not the administration.
"The time for partisan bickering is over. The American people are fed up. Concerned citizens need to get engaged in this process, contact their leaders in Congress and hold them accountable," Solis said.
"For example, there are more than a million construction workers actively looking for employment opportunities to put their skills to use. We know from our mayors and metropolitan leaders that there are tremendous infrastructure needs in cities and towns across the country. Infrastructure investments would create jobs immediately and be a catalyst for broader investment and growth that are critical to our recovery.
"As Labor Day approaches, my thoughts are with those who have suffered the most during this tough economy — our unemployed. They get up every morning, spend the entire day filling out applications and sending out resumes, and are usually told ‘no.' Then they wake up the next morning and start all over again. I am inspired and amazed by their resiliency. This country's elected leaders owe it to our unemployed workers to end the partisan point-scoring and unite behind a set of common-sense strategies to put Americans back to work."
U.S. Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following statement regarding the August unemployment figures out today, with the jobless rate remaining at 9.1 percent:
“It is important to remember that today’s jobs numbers from the Department of Labor are not simply statistics, they are 14 million families struggling to make ends meet, 14 million dreams postponed. With this level of stubborn joblessness, temporary Washington sweeteners won't work.
"The administration has tried them and they’ve failed. Businesses think long term. Washington should too, with a permanent job creation agenda to unleash the untapped potential of the American economy.”
“More speeches won’t solve this problem, nor will more political posturing. Common sense, bipartisan ideas, like encouraging energy development here at home, increasing exports by ratifying the pending trade agreements, eliminating overly onerous and anti-growth regulations, and creating more competitive tax code should be agreed upon immediately to get the nation back on the right path.”
Portman, who recently drafted the Senate Republican Jobs Plan – http://portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=6e0dad20… – as a way to jump-start our economy, highlighted seven steps to create jobs and grow the economy.[[In-content Ad]]
"The U.S. economy added no new jobs in August, as employers cut back hiring and trimmed work hours of existing employees. About 14 million people were officially unemployed in August."
Meanwhile, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the August 2011 Employment Situation report released today:
"The private sector added 17,000 jobs in August, but those gains were offset by the loss of 17,000 government jobs," Solis said. "Total non-farm unemployment, therefore, was unchanged last month. The unemployment rate also remained unchanged at 9.1 percent.
"Consumer confidence dropped sharply last month as Congress took the nation to the brink of default. We knew that this legislative gridlock was going to have repercussions, and the hiring slowdown reflected in today's report shows the real-life consequences that political gamesmanship has on business decisions and workers' lives. These numbers are a stark reminder that actions — and inaction — on Capitol Hill have consequences."
Solis also touted the president's latest plan to create jobs.
"Next Thursday, President Obama will outline a bipartisan plan to create jobs and generate growth that pulls the best ideas from both political parties. If Congress is serious about job creation, the package will pass," Solis said, and called on citizens to contact Congress, not the administration.
"The time for partisan bickering is over. The American people are fed up. Concerned citizens need to get engaged in this process, contact their leaders in Congress and hold them accountable," Solis said.
"For example, there are more than a million construction workers actively looking for employment opportunities to put their skills to use. We know from our mayors and metropolitan leaders that there are tremendous infrastructure needs in cities and towns across the country. Infrastructure investments would create jobs immediately and be a catalyst for broader investment and growth that are critical to our recovery.
"As Labor Day approaches, my thoughts are with those who have suffered the most during this tough economy — our unemployed. They get up every morning, spend the entire day filling out applications and sending out resumes, and are usually told ‘no.' Then they wake up the next morning and start all over again. I am inspired and amazed by their resiliency. This country's elected leaders owe it to our unemployed workers to end the partisan point-scoring and unite behind a set of common-sense strategies to put Americans back to work."
U.S. Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following statement regarding the August unemployment figures out today, with the jobless rate remaining at 9.1 percent:
“It is important to remember that today’s jobs numbers from the Department of Labor are not simply statistics, they are 14 million families struggling to make ends meet, 14 million dreams postponed. With this level of stubborn joblessness, temporary Washington sweeteners won't work.
"The administration has tried them and they’ve failed. Businesses think long term. Washington should too, with a permanent job creation agenda to unleash the untapped potential of the American economy.”
“More speeches won’t solve this problem, nor will more political posturing. Common sense, bipartisan ideas, like encouraging energy development here at home, increasing exports by ratifying the pending trade agreements, eliminating overly onerous and anti-growth regulations, and creating more competitive tax code should be agreed upon immediately to get the nation back on the right path.”
Portman, who recently drafted the Senate Republican Jobs Plan – http://portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=6e0dad20… – as a way to jump-start our economy, highlighted seven steps to create jobs and grow the economy.[[In-content Ad]]