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Remarks by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Asian JSEC Holiday Gala Dinner
Flushing, New York
Friday, December 16, 2005
Thank you, Peter [Koo, Chairman of JSEC]. It's wonderful to be here with you tonight.
Let me also thank Tina Lee, Assistant Publisher of the World Journal Newspaper and a member of the steering committee, for inviting me to be here tonight. I would like to note the presence of State Representative, Jimmy Meng, and Councilman John Liu. I am also pleased that Shinae Chun, the first Asian American Director of the Women's Bureau is with us tonight. She is also the highest ranking Korean American in this Administration. Let me also recognize Anna Hui, Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Labor, and Angela Tang, the Regional Representative in New York, who do outreach to the Asian Pacific American community.
Congratulations on the first annual Wei-Ya Gala sponsored by the Asian Job Service Employer Committee. JSEC should be applauded for including Asian Pacific Americans in this program to match up employers with workers.
Last Friday, the Department of Labor announced the monthly unemployment rate. The data capped a week of good news about the economy. The national unemployment rate remained steady at 5.0%. The unemployment rate in New York State is even lower, at 4.9%. 215,000 net new jobs were created in our country in November, which was above market expectations. This is the 30th straight month of job creation. Third quarter GDP growth exceeded expectations at a robust 4.3 percent. Productivity growth is estimated at 4.7%. That's a phenomenal number for an industrialized nation like ours!
This year, more Americans are working than ever before in our history—142 million people. A total of 4.5 million net new jobs have been created since May 2003.
The Asian American community is playing an important role in the growing economic strength of our country. A new study just released by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that companies with 500 or less employees accounted for 65.3 percent of net job growth during the past two years. Employers with 50 or less employees accounted for 48.7 percent of new jobs.
Asian Pacific Americans have traditionally been entrepreneurial and small business owners. So this new data reflects the critical role that Asian Americans have played in building our country's economic prosperity. Organizations like the Asian Job Service Employer Committee, which helps to connect employers with workers, contribute to helping Asian Pacific Americans participate in mainstream activities.
Our country is currently facing a skills gap. 63% of the new jobs being created are in occupations that pay above average wages. And 90% of the new jobs require some kind of post secondary education. So it's critical for workers to get a good education and to continually upgrade their skills.
Here's a summary of some of the fastest growing sectors of our economy. With an aging population, our country needs 1 million nurses in the next seven years. By 2012, we will need 3.5 million new healthcare technicians and professionals. Our country needs workers in the biosciences, life sciences, aerospace, nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing, geospatial technology, financial services, energy and skilled trades. In fact, the construction industry is able to hire only 65% of the workers they need. And these are good paying jobs.
That's why our country needs to focus on training. And that's why programs like JSEC, which bring employers and workers together, are helpful. It is gratifying to see Asian Pacific Americans becoming more active in this type of program.
As many of you know, the well being of the Asian American community is very close to my heart. I am pleased to work for a leader, President George W. Bush, who has done so much to reach out to our community—appointing the largest number of Asian Pacific Americans in history to the highest levels of the federal government (approximately 290). And I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Labor has the highest number of Asian Pacific Americans in high level positions of any cabinet Department. And I have launched a number of programs at the U.S. Department of Labor to help our community gain access to mainstream America.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the first time in 2002, began to record employment data for Asian Pacific Americans. The Department has also initiated partnership activities, targeted compliance assistance, and enhanced enforcement of labor laws. We have been especially vigilant in enforcing the laws protecting vulnerable immigrants. A key part of this effort is publishing materials about labor law protections in other languages including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
The Department also launched a number of "Opportunity Conferences" to help Asian Pacific Americans—and other ethnic groups. These conferences provide networking opportunities, workshops that develop communication skills, and seminars in marketing and the soft skills. All of these are needed for success in mainstream America. And for four years in a row, the Department of Labor has sponsored a summit for Asian Pacific Americans in the federal workforce.
To build the next generation of leaders, the Department also launched an internship program for Asian Americans—and others. This gives young people an opportunity to work in the federal government and learn more about our government. These are just a few of our on-going efforts to reach out to the Asian American community.
As we approach the New Year, I believe that our community should be confident about the future. The growing strength of our nation's economy and the contributions of our community are a strong foundation to build upon. So thank you for everything you are doing to serve our community and to create opportunity and hope for others. And thank you for honoring my father and me with these special awards.
Happy holidays!
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