Washington, D.C. – May 11, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the April jobs report showed more positive movement for the U.S. economy. The report showed 223,000 new jobs in April, with unemployment dropping to 5.4 percent. Wages rose for the month, but only by 0.1 percent.
“Jobs were strong once again in April,” Congressman Engel said, “and unemployment is at a seven-year low. We’ve created more than 3 million jobs since last year, and the labor market is showing signs of continuing growth.”
“But wages are still flat. We can and should be doing more to make sure that families actually see returns for their hard work. Average wages rose barely 3 cents this month, even as the stock market continues to break records. Meanwhile, Republicans are fighting tooth and nail to keep the minimum wage at $7.25 an hour while they insist that we slash investments in education, infrastructure, and research.”
“The new fiscal year 2016 GOP budget, which passed earlier this week, doesn’t improve wages or grow the middle class. Instead, Republicans want to vote on privatizing Medicare, gutting Medicaid, and repealing the Affordable Care Act. Again. Instead of slashing important programs, we should raise the minimum wage, invest in our future, and make it easier for families to put away money for college and retirement. It’s time to stop the political pandering and do something to bring the recovery home for every working household.”
Analysts say the April jobs report was almost exactly in line with market expectations.
