STATEMENT: Boushey: March Unemployment Brings "Welcome News"

April 1, 2011

Contact: Megan Smith
Phone: 202-741-6346
Email: msmith@americanprogress.org

Washington, DC – Today, Heather Boushey, Senior Economist at the Center for American Progress, had the following reaction to the announcement of March’s unemployment figures:

"Today’s employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provide welcome news: The private sector added 230,000 jobs in April, for the 13th month in a row, and unemployment was little changed at 8.8 percent. Manufacturing in durable goods continued to show strong job gains, which bodes well for the overall economic recovery. Average earnings are flat overall, though.

Policies taken over the past two years have pulled the labor market out of its late 2008 free fall. Members of Congress now have a choice as the boys of summer take the field this week: foolish shutdowns and austerity measures or a home run by passing a budget that focuses on continued job growth both in the short and long run."

To speak to Boushey about the monthly jobs report, contact Megan Smith at 202-741-6346 or msmith@americanprogress.org.

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