Sen. Carper Statement on December Jobs Report

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement in response to today’s jobs report from the U.S. Labor Department:

“Today’s December employment report brings some slightly encouraging news while further underscoring the difficult reality that many unemployed Delawareans continue to face as they seek gainful employment. While it is good that job growth has continued, albeit at a slow, but steady pace, we should be concerned that even last month’s lower unemployment rate of 9.4 percent is still unacceptably high. Far too many people are still looking for work, or have given up altogether. We can take some comfort in the fact that private sector payrolls increased by 113,000 jobs last month, capping 12 straight months of growth that created nearly 1.3 million private sector jobs in 2010 – the strongest levels since 2006. Although the economy is moving in the right direction and more Delawareans and Americans are going back to work, there is still much more to do to help the economic recovery. As my colleagues and I begin the 112th Congress, we must continue to make jobs our top priority. We in the government must continue to provide a nurturing environment for job creation, while staying focused on rebuilding our manufacturing sector, investing in infrastructure, clean energy and education, and continuing to support businesses both large and small – right here in Delaware and across the country.”