Ranking Member Scott Statement on August Jobs Report
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 187,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate rose from 3.5 percent to 3.8 percent. Notably, this rise in the unemployment rate was driven by an increase in labor force participation rather than a decline in employment. The number of jobs created in August is higher than the 182,000 jobs created each month, on average, under the Trump administration prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden had already created more jobs in 24 months than any president had created in a single, 48-month term. In addition, the unemployment rate has remained below four percent for the longest continuous time in approximately 50 years.
“Today’s jobs report indicates, yet again, that our economy remains strong under the leadership of President Biden. The job market continues to bring workers off the sidelines, and the new data released today show that our economy is on a sustainable trajectory of growth.
“I am particularly pleased that the administration has continued its work to secure the kinds of victories for workers and families that made our historic economic recovery possible. In fact, just this week, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su announced a proposed rule that would expand access to federally guaranteed overtime pay to 3.6 million more workers. This is a monumental step which will put more dollars in the pockets of Americans who are asked to work long hours, enabling them to better provide for themselves and their families.
“Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans seem determined to reverse our economic progress. They remain fixated on culture war issues and have failed to provide any concrete plan to avoid a government shutdown at the end of this month. The last thing that workers and families need is to see missed paychecks or a halt to the critical government services on which they rely.
“As we head into the Labor Day weekend and commemorate the contributions of America’s workers and the labor movement, I urge all my colleagues to recommit to supporting workers and families and addressing the immediate challenges facing our constituents.”
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