|
 Printer-Friendly Version
OPA News Release: [08/02/2002]
Contact Name: Sue
Hensley
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on Unemployment
Numbers for July 2002
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the
following statement today on the unchanged unemployment rate in July of 5.9
percent.
“The good news is that July's unemployment rate was essentially
unchanged from the previous month. Non-farm payroll employment basically held
steady with the addition of 6,000 new jobs.
“Another positive sign is that long-term unemployment of 15 weeks
or longer has declined after rising continuously for more than a year. The
service sector continues to add jobs. We also continue to see growth in certain
industries, such as the 29,000 jobs added in the health care field. Education,
local government, department stores and mortgage banking all saw increased jobs
as well.
“Yesterday’s Senate passage of the Trade Adjustment Assistance
Reform Act is also welcome news for the economy, providing the President with
the first trade promotion authority since 1994. Free trade is good for exports,
good for job creation and good for our economy overall.”
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
