Scott Statement on October Jobs Report
WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 261,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent.
“Today’s jobs report demonstrates that the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda is producing a record number of jobs. President Biden has added more jobs in his first 22 months in office than any previous Administration in the same amount of time and, importantly, recovered 100 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic. By consistently prioritizing people over politics and focusing on the needs of students, workers, and families, Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration have rebuilt a stronger economy from the bottom up and the middle out.
“To build on this progress, Congress should invest in workforce development initiatives, such as Registered Apprenticeships (RAs), that have a proven record of success not only for employees, but employers as well. In fact, new reporting from the Department of Labor (DOL) shows the median estimate of an employer’s return on investment in RAs is roughly 44 percent.
“The new reporting from DOL underscores the best way to continue to grow an economy that works for both workers and businesses is to reinvest in RAs. Last year, the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act of 2021, which would create 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years. It would also streamline the process to make it easier for apprentices and employers to participate in RA programs. And it expands apprentices career opportunities into nontraditional fields, such as health care and finance. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues and the Biden-Harris Administration to continue moving this legislation forward and ultimately to the President’s desk.”
###
Press Contact
Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853
Next Article Previous Article