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’ February 2012 jobs report showing that 227,000 total nonfarm jobs were added and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.3 percent:
“I’m encouraged by this month’s jobs report. The solid job growth from the end of 2011 has continued into 2012. February marked the 24th consecutive month of private-sector job gains and the third month in a row where these job gains have exceeded 200,000, yet we are still a long way off from seeing the unemployment rate reach pre-recession levels. While the unemployment rate was unchanged last month, it has declined significantly since September.
Too many Americans haven’t felt the recovery. When workers have to pay more at the pump, they have less to spend on other goods and services. This is tough on families and can also harm the economy. We need a multi-pronged approach on gas prices.
The economy has made good progress. But we need to stay focused on job creation and take actions to ensure that rapidly-rising gas prices do not derail or slow the recovery.”
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