U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta Statement on July Jobs Report

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the July 2017 Employment Situation report:

“July’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent from the previous month’s level of 4.4 percent. The unemployment rate matches its May 2017 rate, which is the lowest since May 2001. The unemployment rate has dropped 0.5 percentage point since President Trump took office. Non-farm payroll employment rose by 209,000 jobs. More than one million jobs have been created since January. Multiple economic sectors showed job growth since the President took office, including 82,000 jobs created in construction and 70,000 in manufacturing.

“Since President Trump took office, the unemployment rate has hit a 16-year low. This month’s jobs report reflects the steady economic growth and continued optimism felt by businesses across the United States. American companies are growing and they are hiring. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are now taking home a paycheck.

“By empowering business, education, and state and local government to work together on expanding apprenticeships and job opportunities, our labor force will continue to strengthen. This Administration is committed to ensuring good, safe, family-sustaining jobs for American workers will be available today and in the future.”