WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) trumpeted the latest jobs numbers from the U.S. Department of Labor, which showed unemployment had declined to 9.0 percent in January.
“I was heartened by today’s news that the unemployment rate dropped by nearly half a percent in January, and that the manufacturing sector in particular had its best month of growth since 1998. It is a sign that our economy is indeed recovering, but we can’t let up. Now is not the time to re-fight old political battles, but rather for Congress to work together to harness this momentum and look for ways to get more Americans back to work.”
The manufacturing sector added 49,000 jobs in January – the most since August 1998 and the most of all sectors in January.
The Department of Labor report comes three days after the Institute for Supply Management found stronger than expected growth in the manufacturing sector in January. Its index of manufacturing activity moved to 60.8 in January from 58.5 in December (ratings over 50 are generally indicative of a period of growth). The report also showed gains in its new orders index, production index, and hiring index.
The ISM report can be viewed here:
http://www.ism.ws/ISMReport/MfgROB.cfm?navItemNumber=12942
The Department of Labor report can be viewed here:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm
Senator Coons’ maiden speech on manufacturing can be read here:
http://coons.senate.gov/press/release/?id=2F5212C1-C153-4EEF-B372-6F3FACCB38E9
Or watched here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twwIWI5ZPTE
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