WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the July 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 943,000 jobs in the month of July, and the unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, down from 5.9 percent in June. With an average of 832,000 new jobs over the past three months, this robust and sustained job growth is built on the Biden administration’s progress getting people vaccinated and investing in America’s workers, businesses and communities.

“Our labor force is healing, our economy is reopening, and people are getting back to work, but we still have a way to go. Economic recovery depends on our commitment to public health, so I urge every eligible person to get vaccinated against COVID-19 who has not done so already. It’s how to protect yourself, protect your family, and help our economy move forward.

“We head toward Labor Day with work to do, but with momentum and with hope. We have the opportunity to create millions of good jobs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, as well as empower working families and create a more inclusive workforce through the President’s Build Back Better Agenda.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today issued a statement on the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:

“American workers have lost one of their greatest champions in AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. President Trumka was a role model for me as a labor leader and a partner to me as a public servant, as we worked to drive positive change for workers and communities across America. Most important, Rich was a dear friend and I will miss him.

“He was elected the youngest President of the United Mineworkers of America at age 33, and his commitment only grew with every year he fought for the rights and well-being of his brothers and sisters in the labor movement and beyond.

“From the commercial airways 30,000 feet in the air to the deepest mine shafts 10,000 feet below ground, there is no part of our world that was not touched by his grace and commitment to what he believed was right.

“My colleagues and I will be forever grateful for the ways he pushed us to think bigger and do better, for his wise counsel, and for the more just society he leaves us with today.

“In the coming days and weeks, I hope the remembrances of Richard Trumka’s unparalleled life and career bring people from every corner of society – from the White House to the factory floor – together to share the ways he lit fires in each of us that will go on burning long after he is gone.

“We pray that he rests in a profoundly earned peace, and that the love we have for him brings his wife Barbara and his entire family comfort.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today issued a statement on Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s announcement that Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. has today pleaded to and been sentenced for theft relating to violations of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act and the federal Davis-Bacon Act.

“Today’s plea and sentencing of Hawbaker Inc. is a victory for the more than 1,200 workers whose hard-earned money was stolen. Ensuring workers get all the money owed  them is a priority for the U.S. Department of Labor, and our partners in state government, when they act with courage and conviction as Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has in this case, can help us secure more just outcomes for workers.

“Contractors working on federally funded projects subject to the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts are required to pay prevailing hourly wages and fringe benefits. The violation of Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in this case is clear. I commend Attorney General Shapiro and the team for their commitment in getting these workers the wages they earned, and leveling the playing field for contractors who play by the rules.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the June 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 850,000 jobs in the month of June, and the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, compared to 5.8 percent in May. With a total of more than 3 million jobs since President Biden took office, this increasingly strong job growth reflects growing confidence among workers as more people get vaccinated and American Rescue Plan investments provide stability for families, businesses, and communities.

I’ve been seeing this progress firsthand as I travel around the United States encouraging people to get vaccinated and discussing their economic situation and job needs. Americans are going back to work in large numbers, but this is no time to let up. We are still down millions of jobs from pre-pandemic levels and the inequities heightened by the crisis persist. We need to be proactive in our policies to create good jobs and make sure all workers have access to those jobs.

So as we enter the Fourth of July weekend, there is cause for celebration. More of us can gather safely with friends and family again, confident that we are beating the virus, jobs are returning and under the President’s leadership the economy is growing faster than at any time in 40 years.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the May 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 559,000 jobs in the month of May, and the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, down from 6.1 percent in April to the lowest point it has been since March of 2020. This data reflects solid continuing job growth and strong evidence that our efforts through the American Rescue Plan to vaccinate Americans and support families, small businesses, schools and childcare providers are working to reopen and rebuild our economy.

“These numbers match what I’ve seen and heard as I travel around the country talking to workers. From early educators in Tennessee, to power plant workers in Wisconsin, to steel fabricators and home health aides in Pennsylvania: working people across America are eager to work, support their families and strengthen their communities.

“But workers also told me about the challenges they and their families face – finding affordable childcare, caring for elderly parents and grandparents, and overcoming the hurdles raised by decades of income inequality and race- and gender-based inequity. These challenges are also reflected in our jobs data, and they are why the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan are so important. We need to invest in our workforce and our communities to achieve an inclusive recovery and a competitive economy.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the April 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 266,000 jobs in the month of April, and the unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, up marginally from 6.0 percent in March. Labor force participation is at its highest point since last August and the number of people expressing hesitancy about returning to work due to the coronavirus is at its lowest point in the pandemic.

“However, the numbers also show we have a steep climb ahead of us. We have yet to recover roughly eight million jobs that existed prior to the pandemic. Racial inequities in the unemployment picture persist, as the Black unemployment rate increased slightly to 9.7 percent, the Hispanic rate held level at 7.9 percent, the Asian rate dropped to 5.7 percent and the white rate fell to 5.3 percent.

“These figures underscore how the American Rescue Plan puts us on the path to recovery. It’s increased the speed and access of vaccinations, it’s bringing needed relief to families, it’s enabling daycare centers and schools to reopen, and it’s supporting small businesses. It’s going to take time and effort to heal this economy.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement regarding the verdict in the State of Minnesota v. Derek Chauvin:

“This verdict affirms that the murder of George Floyd was a profound injustice, as well as a devastating blow to a family and a community. Today we remember George Floyd’s life, pray for his family and all who loved him, and honor his memory by rededicating ourselves to the work of achieving racial justice and economic equity for all.”

WASHINGTON, DC – The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the president’s priorities for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending. The funding request invests in the core foundations of our country’s strength and advances key Department of Labor priorities. These include significant investments in protecting workers’ rights, health and safety, and wages; strengthening and improving access and equity within the federal-state unemployment compensation program; supporting training opportunities that provide pathways to the middle class, especially for diverse communities; and enforcing employment anti-discrimination laws to ensure federal contracting fulfills America’s promise to all Americans.

“This funding proposal is as bold as it is necessary in its scope and economic impact as we seek to boost workers and families out of the most challenging economic situation in generations. The proposal acknowledges and addresses the burden that communities of color and other traditionally underserved groups have borne throughout the pandemic,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “As a reflection of the people’s needs, this funding proposal recognizes the need for workers’ rights to be enforced, the need for expanded and diversified registered apprenticeship opportunities, the need for a stronger, more efficient unemployment insurance system and the overarching need for equity in all we do.”

The president’s FY22 discretionary request:

• Empowers and protects American workers. To ensure employers treat workers with dignity and respect at work, the discretionary request invests $2.1 billion – an increase of $304 million over the 2021 enacted level – in the department’s worker protection agencies. Over the past four years, the department’s worker protection agencies lost approximately 14 percent of their staff, which limited the department’s ability to perform inspections and conduct investigations. The proposal would enable the department to conduct the enforcement and regulatory work needed to protect workers’ wages, health and safety, benefits and rights; and address the misclassification of workers as independent contractors.

• Increases skill-building opportunities so workers can build a better future. To ensure future growth and prosperity, and ensure all workers – in all communities – have multiple pathways to high quality, good-paying jobs and access to the middle class, the discretionary request provides $3.7 billion – an additional $203 million over the 2021 enacted level – for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act State Grants. These grants will make employment services and training available to more dislocated workers, low-income adults and disadvantaged youth hurt by the pandemic’s economic fallout. The request seeks to develop pathways for diverse workers to access training and career opportunities by also investing in critical programs that serve disadvantaged groups including justice-involved individuals, at-risk youth and low-income veterans. The discretionary request also provides $285 million – a $100 million increase above the 2021 enacted level – to expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities while increasing access for historically underrepresented groups, including people of color and women, and diversifying the industry sectors involved.

• Improves access and equity in the unemployment insurance system. To address the inadequacies of states’ administration of their unemployment insurance systems, namely the significant delays and obstacles that came to light amid the pandemic and that disproportionately affect workers of color, the discretionary request makes investments to ensure states can better handle higher volumes of claims and be better prepared for future crises. The proposal fully funds and updates the formula for determining the amount states receive to administer UI, the first comprehensive update in decades, allowing states to serve claimants more quickly and effectively. The discretionary request also includes a $100 million investment to support the development of information technology solutions that states can deploy to ensure timely and equitable access to benefits.

• Supports worker training for new careers in clean energy. To support the reskilling and reemploying of displaced workers in Appalachian communities, the discretionary request includes a $100 million investment for the department’s role in the new multi-agency POWER+ Initiative. This request will complement other targeted federal investments in POWER+ to assist workers and transform local economies in communities transitioning away from fossil fuel production. The discretionary request also provides $20 million for a new program, developed in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will help combat climate change while preparing veterans for good-paying jobs by focusing on helping veterans shift to careers in clean energy.

These discretionary investments reflect only one element of the President’s broader agenda. In the coming months, the administration will release the President’s Budget, which will present a unified, comprehensive plan to address the overlapping crises we face in a fiscally and economically responsible way.

Read more about the President’s FY22 discretionary funding request.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the March 2021 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 916,000 jobs in the month of March. The unemployment rate edged down to 6.0 percent, from 6.2 percent in February. It’s very good news for over 900,000 working people and their families, with significant growth across most sectors of the economy indicating that recovery is building momentum. At the same time, over 8 million jobs that existed a year ago are yet to return. Millions of people are still hurting, and we have a long way to go before we are fully recovered.

“Disparities within the workforce continue to be a major concern. The African-American unemployment rate in March was 9.6 percent, and the Hispanic rate was 7.9 percent, compared to 5.4 percent for whites. In addition, barriers to labor force participation for women continue to be a primary feature of the economy that has been exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic’s impact.

“It’s clear that through vaccination progress and extensive economic relief, the American Rescue Plan is having positive effects on our economy, laying the foundation for continued recovery. But America’s economy remains in a deep hole, and the negative effects are experienced disproportionately by lower income workers and those who faced structural inequities prior to the pandemic. The American Jobs Plan proposed by President Biden this week addresses each of these issues and offers a bold and necessary path to a sustainable and vibrant economy that is competitive and inclusive.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh issued the following statement after President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan, a comprehensive infrastructure package that will create millions of good-paying jobs and make America more competitive:

“President Biden’s American Jobs Plan is a historic investment in the working people of America. It will create millions of good paying, family sustaining jobs that rebuild the middle class by empowering our workers to build America’s future.

“This plan is what building back better looks like – 21st-century infrastructure including rail, roads, bridges and broadband; clean energy and drinking water for healthy communities; expanded job training and apprenticeships, so workers can take control of their futures; research and development to grow good manufacturing jobs; investment in the essential care professions that our families and communities depend on; and equity for historically marginalized communities, so nobody gets left out.

“As a former construction worker, I know a good job can change your life. As a former mayor, I know that these investments will transform struggling communities and grow local economies. As Labor Secretary, I stand ready to make sure these opportunities reach workers from all walks of life and in every corner of our country.”