Statement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on Today's Employment Report

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today released the following statement on the employment situation in November. Today’s report shows that the economy added 211,000 jobs last month, and that the unemployment rate remains at 5.0 percent.

“Today’s employment report is another strong indication of the steady growth in our economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “Our businesses have added 13.7 million jobs over 69 straight months, and in the last three years, we have seen the strongest job creation since 2000. Hourly earnings are also up 2.3% over the last 12 months, supporting income growth for the nation’s households.

“Even with these gains, we must continue creating the conditions for our workers and our businesses to compete and succeed in the global economy. Making strong investments in our workforce, our infrastructure, and in support of innovation will help keep our economy strong and secure our global standing. In addition, Congress must approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will create unprecedented market access opportunities for our businesses while ensuring that our workers can compete on a level playing field.”