Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Scalia on the February Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement on the February 2020 Employment Situation report:

“February’s jobs report again far exceeded expectations with a surge of 273,000 jobs created. With an upward revision of 48,000 jobs in January, 6.9 million new jobs have been added since January 2017.

“In the context of the already robust economy described in the President’s State of the Union address, the job growth from January to February marks the strongest two-month start to the year of this Administration.

 “The unemployment rate dropped last month to 3.5%, the lowest level in 50 years, and has remained at or below 4% for two years. The unemployment rate for women also fell, matching the lowest rate since 1953.

“The blue collar boom continued in February with private sector wages growing 3% year-over-year, and production and non-supervisory workers’ wages increased even faster than managers’. February marks the 19th consecutive month that wages grew at or above 3%.

“The Department of Labor continues to implement the President’s policies that are helping workers and their families thrive, including closing the skills gap through apprenticeships, and bringing more Americans off the sidelines for good, safe, family-sustaining careers.

“The signing of USMCA and Phase I of the China Agreement establish sound footing to continue economic expansion this year and beyond.”