Scott Statement on July Jobs Report
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 209,000 jobs in July, with the unemployment rate at 4.3 percent.
“Today’s jobs report shows that the economic gains we made in the recovery from the Great Recession remain strong. However, the report also includes the fact that wages are still stagnant.
“According to the report, average hourly earnings for all employees in nonfarm employment rose just nine cents, which equates to approximately 2.5 percent over the year. This wage growth is below the target of 3.5 to 4 percent annually that many economists say is necessary in order for workers to actually enjoy the benefits of this level of economic growth. Raising the federal minimum wage is one way Congress can address this problem. The purchasing power of the minimum wage is well below where it should be, so raising it to $15 an hour is one of several solutions Democrats offered when we unveiled our plan to offer working families A Better Deal—access to better jobs and better wages. Ensuring workers have better jobs and better wages also means they should be trained with the tools they need to succeed in our economy. House Democrats have been rolling out legislation as part of our Aim Higher initiative to ensure all students have access to a meaningful degree that costs less money and leads to a good-paying job.
"Working people need solutions that help them achieve a better balance between work and family, a level playing field that ensures equal pay for equal work, and protections against discrimination. Democrats are ready to work with our Republican colleagues to ensure we continue to grow our economy and promote economic security for working people and families.”
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