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OPA News Release: [06/18/2004]
Contact Name: Lisa Kruska
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Colorado Employment Statistics Improving and Better Than
National Average,
Says U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Secretary Also Announces $2 Million Grant for Hispanic Youth
DENVER—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao traveled
to Denver, Colo., today to highlight the new state employment statistics
and to announce a $2 million grant to help at-risk Hispanic youth in Colorado,
Arizona, Texas and California. With a state unemployment rate of 4.9%
released today—a drop from last month's rate of 5.1%, Colorado is
well under the national unemployment average. Today's number also represents
a significant improvement over the state unemployment rate of 6.2% a year
ago.
“The positive employment statistics are proof that the President's
policies are working and helping people find good jobs in Colorado,” said
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “These job figures and other recent
data show that America's economy is strong and getting stronger.”
Nationwide, more than 1.4 million jobs have been created since
last August. The economy has gone through nine consecutive months of job
growth, and the national unemployment rate stands at 5.6%, below the national
average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
While in Denver, Secretary Chao also announced a $2 million grant that will
support the Latino Coalition for Community and Faith-Based Initiatives in
developing educational and workforce-development services for approximately
1,000 at-risk Hispanic youth.
“This grant will help at-risk Hispanic youth prepare to fill the growing
number of good jobs our economy is producing,” Secretary Chao said.
The grant will encourage long-term partnerships between Hispanic faith-based
and community organizations, local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), One-Stop
Career Centers, juvenile justice systems and the business community.
In addition to today's grant to help at-risk Hispanic youth, the U.S. Labor
Department earlier this year inaugurated a new Hispanic Worker
Initiative. Currently, the Labor Department's Employment and
Training Administration is funding unique, industry-driven demonstration projects
through the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. These include
Hispanic workers in their overall service strategy. The department will continue
to explore more innovative projects that address the identified workforce challenges
of Hispanic Americans.
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