WASHINGTON, DC- In response to new labor market data showing that the national unemployment rate dropped to 9.7 percent, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:
“For the first time since October, the unemployment rate has dipped below 10 percent. We have seen incremental positive news in economic indicators. However, the reality facing too many families is that 14.8 million Americans are out of work. In other bad news, the unemployment rate among African-Americans rose to 16.5 percent -- the only increase among major demographic groups -- and the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans was 12.6 percent compared to 10.4 percent for non-veterans.
“Job creation and making it easier for companies to make the decision to hire new employees must remain our top priority.
“Looking more closely at the data, there are other positive signals. For the first time in three years, manufacturing jobs increased. Last month, 11,000 new manufacturing jobs were created.
“As I speak to small business owners across the Commonwealth, it is clear that there is still a sense of uncertainty. Providing help to small businesses through a job creation tax credit, like the one I have proposed, and by increasing access to capital can provide security and an incentive for businesses to expand their operations and create jobs.”
###
