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OPA News Release: [01/07/2005]
Contact Name:
Jane Norris
Phone Number: 202-693-4676
Release Number: 05-0046-NAT
Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao
On December Unemployment Numbers
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
issued the following statement on the December unemployment numbers released
today:
“The economy created 157,000 jobs in December, many in higher paying fields
including education and health services and professional and business services.
This emphasizes the importance of the President's economic programs and job
training initiatives.”
The unemployment rate in December remained unchanged at 5.4% and more than
2.5 million jobs have been created in the last 16 months. The level of payroll
employment is now 114,000 higher than in January 2001 and the annual average
for 2004 shows that more Americans are working than ever before.
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