News Release

STATEMENT BY US SECRETARY OF LABOR WALSH ON THE SEPTEMBER JOBS REPORT

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

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“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 194,000 jobs in the month of September, and the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, down from 5.2 percent in August. With the lowest unemployment rate since the pandemic began and sustained growth in private sector employment, the Biden-Harris administration is continuing to get people back to work. Since the President took office, we have added 4.8 million jobs, an average of over 600,000 jobs per month.

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“At the Department of Labor we are committed to an inclusive recovery, and we saw good news this month as the rates of Black and Hispanic unemployment, while still too high, both dropped. We have to make sure these gains are sustainable and built on more workers returning to good jobs. The President’s bipartisan infrastructure plan and Build Back Better agenda offer powerful and necessary ways to continue this progress toward equity. In the meantime, to sustain our recovery we must all continue to prioritize public health. Employer vaccine requirements are working to bring case numbers down, help more people get back to work and stay healthy, and strengthen our economy.”

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Agency: Office of the Secretary

Date: October 8, 2021

Release Number: 21-1811-NAT

Contact: Emma Eatman

Phone Number: 202-693-6768

Email: eatman.emma.r@dol.gov