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 significant drop in the unemployment rate:
“The drop in the unemployment rate for Pennsylvania, from 8.5 percent in December 2010 to 8.2 percent in January 2011, is a positive sign that the Pennsylvania economy continues on the path to recovery. The manufacturing sector, a bright spot in our recovery, added 4,100 jobs – the single largest increase since June 2000. We are seeing an increase of jobs in the Construction, Education & Health Services and Mining & Logging sectors that point to companies hiring new employees.
“Tomorrow, national employment figures for February 2011 will be released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and I hope the economic indicators continue to point toward an economic recovery across the nation.
“However, over 523,000 Pennsylvanians remain unemployed and we must continue implementing policies that will boost employment and prepare workers for jobs in emerging sectors. We must continue to focus on policies that spur investment in education and infrastructure that will create jobs and keep America competitive in the global economy.
“As Chairman of the JEC, I look forward to hearing from business leaders and other experts who can help identify policies and practices that will generate additional private sector jobs, strengthen the manufacturing sector and support Pennsylvania’s economic recovery.”
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