Rep. Engel: May Jobs Report Shows Continued Economic Gains

Press Release

Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the May jobs report showed the U.S. economy is continuing to pick up steam. The report showed strong gains, with 280,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent, making May the 63rd consecutive month of private sector job growth. Wages continued to rise modestly, by 0.3 percent.

"Strong job growth continued in May, and the overall trends have the labor market moving in the right direction," Congressman Engel said. "After a rough winter, the economic recovery has come back strong. Unfortunately, wages remain flat, and the Republican leadership is not doing anything to improve economic conditions for working families.

"The GOP House agenda doesn't improve wages or grow the middle class. Instead, it promotes outdated fiscal policies that privatize Social Security and Medicare while handcuffing our economy with mindless austerity. Instead of pushing policies that are ultimately counter-productive to our economic growth, we should be raising the minimum wage, investing in our future, and making it easier for families to put away money for college and retirement. I urge the Republican leadership to stop the posturing, and put America back to work."

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