Statement by US Secretary of Labor Walsh on the August Jobs Report

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

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 235,000 jobs in the month of August, and the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, down from 5.4 percent in July. With average growth of 750,000 in the last three months and the lowest unemployment rate since the pandemic began, the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to get Americans back to work. But we have work to do to beat back the Delta variant and build an inclusive economy. Rising infection rates in some states hit the food and retail sectors hard, where workers of color and women are disproportionately represented.  

“So as we enter a Labor Day weekend like no other, not only do we show our appreciation for the essential workers who keep us going, we commit to turning that appreciation into action by improving the lives of all workers in America. In the Department of Labor we are seizing this opportunity to empower all workers morning, noon and night – by valuing our nation’s caregiving economy, building a more inclusive workforce, and by ensuring all workers can be healthy and financially secure. By continuing to get people vaccinated, creating good jobs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, and investing in our people through the President’s Build Back Better Agenda, we have a tremendous opportunity this Labor Day to advance equity and prosperity for working people.”