Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Chair of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' August jobs report showing that the unemployment rate was statistically unchanged at 9.6 percent and 54,000 total nonfarm jobs were lost:

“As we head into Labor Day weekend, we’re in better shape than a year ago.  We’re making steady progress and I’m encouraged that private sector job growth went up this month by 67,000 – making that 8 straight months of private sector job gains.  Last August, we lost 215,000 private sector jobs. 

“But the good news is tempered by the fact that we’re not yet adding enough jobs to bring down the unemployment rate.  And for the 14.9 million Americans who remain out of work, this recovery still feels more like a recession.

“This month’s report shows again that policies do matter.  For example, look at local governments.  In August, local governments gained 4,000 jobs after losing 33,000 jobs in July.  While the full effect of the August recess educational bill will not show up until next month’s employment report, I am confident this gain in jobs as well as the reduction in layoffs of K-12 educators (from 18,000 jobs lost in July to 10,000 jobs lost in August) is due to action that my Democratic colleagues and I took to approve funding for state and local governments.  It appears that the Speaker made the right decision to reconvene the House during recess to approve this funding.

“When Congress returns this month, we need to act quickly to bolster the economy.  I’m focused on getting something done to help small businesses, so that they can hire more workers and help lower the unemployment rate.  I welcome the President’s ideas for further action.  Now is the time to be bold.”

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The Joint Economic Committee, established under the Employment Act of 1946, was created by Congress to review economic conditions and to analyze the effectiveness of economic policy.