Strong Gains in Private Sector Jobs

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) comments on the Department of Labor’s jobs report for December 2015:

The December report shows a gain of 275,000 private sector jobs, a bookend to a year in of steady job growth and a reduction of the unemployment rate down by more than half a percentage point since last January.

The sustained momentum of job growth is good news for our nation as its economy moves from recovery into resurgence.

Creating jobs is only part of the equation when it comes to the expansion of the American Dream.  In order to sustain and build on these gains, we also must ensure that wages increase and that jobs in America provide workers and their families with opportunities to get ahead.   To do so, Congress has to focus relentlessly on fostering an economy that is competitive and can attract private businesses to invest here, hire here, and help more of our people Make It In America.

Throughout 2016, House Democrats will continue to seek ways to help our private sector add more jobs and make sure those jobs pay well. We are committed to making it easier for workers to afford home ownership, send their children to college, access quality health care, and save for a comfortable retirement.

It takes both parties to enact legislation. The House Democrats will seek every opportunity to work across the aisle with Republicans to achieve these goals. It is our hope that we can build on the responsible bipartisanship that led to the reopening of the Export-Import Bank, continued our nation’s investments made through a highway bill, and the very important re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act — these are accomplishments in recent weeks. We have more to meet.

Speaker Paul Ryan and Leader Kevin McCarthy have a duty to this House and to the American people to allow commonsense job-boosting measures with broad, bipartisan support to reach the floor. There is wide support for such initiatives as comprehensive immigration reform and tax reform.

I hope responsible Republicans will continue to have the courage to work with Democrats to achieve results of which our constituents can be proud in the months ahead.

For more information about House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer, visit his Leader Page.