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OPA News Release: [01/06/2006]
Contact Name: Lisa Kruska
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release Number:
06-0032-NAT
Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao
On December Employment Numbers
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the December employment situation released today:
"We’re starting the New Year with strong economic momentum and, as today’s numbers show, a rebound in post-hurricane job creation — all good news for America’s workers. 413,000 new jobs were created in the last two months, for a total of two million new jobs in 2005. That’s 31 straight months of job creation, totaling more than 4.6 million new jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 4.9%, which is one half percent lower than a year ago. This shows that the President’s economic policies are working. Now it’s time to implement the President’s proposals to strengthen job training, so we can close the skills gap and ensure that America’s workers are prepared for these growing opportunities."
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