Statement by US Secretary of Labor Acosta on June jobs report

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the June 2017 Employment Situation report:

“June’s unemployment numbers were little changed at 4.4 percent from the previous month’s level of 4.3 percent. Non-farm payroll employment rose by 222,000 jobs. 187,000 private sector jobs were created in June, and 821,000 private sector jobs have been added to the economy during the five months since January 2017.  Job growth was strong in the sectors of mining and logging, financial activities, and education and health services. Since January, the unemployment rate has dropped by 0.4 percent and is well below the pre-recession rate of 5.3 percent

“This month’s robust job creation and moderate wage growth has direct impact on American families.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is working to ensure that all Americans who want a good job can find a good job and that businesses are able to hire the skilled workers they require. We are committed to unleashing the economic power of the American people so every citizen has the ability to reach his or her full potential.”