Press Release

Statement by Secretary Gutierrez on May’s Employment Report

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA—Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today released the following statement on the May Employment Report, which showed that the unemployment rate is 5.5 percent:

“Today’s jobs report is disappointing. While growth was a bit better in the first quarter than originally estimated, we are nevertheless in a period of slow growth. But the Administration is acting quickly to distribute the economic stimulus checks to more than 130 million taxpayers. The plan is expected to create more than half a million jobs by the end of this year.

“Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent or every taxpayer will face a tax increase. Small businesses, which create most of the new jobs in America, will bear a heavy burden. Congress also must act on free trade agreements and not let opportunities pass us by. It is estimated that more than 5.5 million American jobs are related to manufacturing exports. At a time when our economy is facing challenges, we need to level the playing field for our exporters.”

Secretary Gutierrez is in St. Petersburg, Russia to discuss U.S.-Russian bilateral trade and to address the 12th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 7.