Statement from U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on the March 2021 Employment Situation Report

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.”