WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2012 jobs report showing that 69,000 total nonfarm jobs were added and the unemployment rate was little changed at 8.2 percent:

“Today’s report shows that the private sector has added jobs for 27 consecutive months, but the slow rate of growth makes it clear more needs to be done. The economy is still not adding jobs quickly enough and stronger job growth is needed to lower the unemployment rate.

“Coupled with the modest job growth is a discrepancy in wages earned between men and women.  Nationally, female workers earn only 82 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. At a time when one in three employed moms is the only source of earnings in her family, this gender wage inequality threatens the livelihood of struggling families across the nation.

“This is why I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for the Paycheck Fairness Act when the Senate takes up this legislation next week. The legislation will help close the pay gap by strengthening the original Equal Pay Act, which prohibits gender discrimination in the workplace.  In addition to barring employers from punishing employees for sharing salary information with co-workers, the legislation develops training programs to educate women on how to negotiate compensation packages.

“There is no justification to shortchange women for the same work that men perform. Closing the pay gap will help families make ends meet and will provide a much needed boost to our economic recovery.”