Sen. Carper Statement on February Jobs Report

WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement in response to February employment figures released today:

“Today’s jobs report is yet another indication that the economy is improving, and that labor markets are headed in the right direction. The private sector added 222,000 jobs, and the national unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent—its lowest level in nearly two years. This is good news, but it’s not good enough. Even though we are starting to see more evidence that employers are gaining the confidence to hire again, unemployment remains stubbornly high and far too many hard-working Delaware families are without jobs through no fault of their own. This only underscores the need for government to provide a nurturing environment for job creation, while also addressing businesses’ need for certainty and predictability.

“It’s also worth noting that nearly every major sector of the economy added jobs, with manufacturing leading the way. A strong manufacturing sector is critical to our nation’s prosperity and growth, and we need to build on that growth and keep good paying manufacturing jobs here at home.

“Smart investments in education, infrastructure, and clean energy can help spur the creation of jobs, not just today or tomorrow, but for decades to come. As we look at the federal budget for areas where we can spend less money and get better results, we should also be looking for common-sense measures that ensure our nation can compete in the 21st century.”