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OPA News Release: [12/05/2003]
Contact Name: Lisa
Kruska
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Statement of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao on November
Unemployment Numbers
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the
following statement on the November unemployment numbers released today:
“The economy gained 57,000 jobs in November. This is four straight
months of job growth, with a total of 328,000 new jobs created, the most robust
four-month job growth record in three years. The unemployment rate fell to 5.9
percent, below what the market had forecast. There was significant job growth
in health care and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, temporary help
services and construction. Construction jobs increased for the ninth
consecutive month.
“Many other economic indicators point toward continued job growth
well into the new year: manufacturing hours rose to a three-year high, weekly
claims for unemployment benefits have stayed close to three-year lows,
third-quarter economic growth was even more robust than anybody had expected,
and productivity growth is the strongest it has been in more than 20 years.
“We are optimistic, however we’ll not be satisfied until
everyone who wants a job can find one. More jobs will be created when Congress
acts on the President’s Six-Point Plan for the Economy, which will make
health insurance more affordable, reduce the lawsuit burden on the economy and
allow employers and workers to plan for the future by making tax relief
permanent.”
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