Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Chair of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May jobs report showing that the unemployment rate decreased to 9.7 percent and 431,000 total nonfarm jobs were added:

"The job growth in May shows that the labor market continues to strengthen.  We are taking solid steps toward an economic recovery.  The economy has added jobs every month this year.  In the past three months, we’ve added a total of 417,000 private sector jobs.  Actions taken by Democrats in Congress are working and the economy is recovering. 

“Key sectors are showing job gains.  Manufacturing has now gained jobs five months in a row, adding 126,000 jobs in 2010.  The temporary help sector has experienced eight consecutive months of job gains, adding 362,000 jobs since September 2009.

“As expected, the number of Census workers increased significantly in May, accounting for 411,000 of the 431,000 jobs gained during the month.  The 549,000 Census positions added so far in 2010 closely tracks the 515,000 Census jobs added through the first five months of 2000 during the 2000 Census.  Census hiring provides a short-term boost to employment and these jobs are helping us to perform an important government responsibility mandated by the Constitution.   But in this economic climate, any boost in employment is welcome.

 “While the unemployment rate declined this month, it remains unacceptably high.   It will take strong, sustained growth to regain the 8.4 million jobs lost during the Great Recession and to put all unemployed Americans back to work.  The legislation passed last week by the House of Representatives supporting 300,000 summer jobs for young people is a good step, but Congress should take additional actions to boost employment, including expanding lending to small businesses and strengthening job training for workers.”

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