WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement in response to new employment figures released today by Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry, which showed a drop in the unemployment rate from 7.8 percent in March 2011 to 7.5 percent in April.
"These positive developments show that the Pennsylvania economy is moving in the right direction. We must stay focused on policies that help businesses expand and increase hiring so that the recovery continues and reaches all parts of the Commonwealth. As Chairman of the JEC, I will continue to look at how we can help create additional private sector jobs, spark innovation and add strength to the recovery in Pennsylvania and across the country.
"Today’s employment report shows that the Pennsylvania economy continues to recover. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent, a drop of 1.3 percent since April of 2010, and marks the fourth month in a row that the unemployment rate has declined in Pennsylvania. The number of unemployed residents fell 18,000 and is at its lowest level since February 2009. Since December 2010, the unemployment rate has dropped by a full percentage point.
"The employer survey, which counts the number of jobs, recorded an increase of 23,700 positions during the month. This is a significant and encouraging gain, and is the third month this year that the number of jobs have increased in the Commonwealth."
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