In honor of the 125th celebration of Labor Day in the United States, the Department of Labor produced a video and released a statement highlighting just some of the incredible achievements of President Donald Trump’s administration in terms of improving the situation for working-class Americans, namely more jobs and higher wages.
Chief among those highlights was the fact that the unemployment rate on Labor Day was at its lowest point since 1969 and, with regard to certain key segments of the working population, the unemployment rate has matched or improved upon record low levels.
Record low unemployment, higher wages and more
Acting Labor Secretary Patrick Pizzella said in a statement on Monday, “Today, we mark the 125th Anniversary of Labor Day, a Federal holiday that was created out of appreciation and respect for the work done by the men and women of this country.”
Pizzella cited a Labor Day quote from former President Theodore Roosevelt — “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” He then shared some of the excellent employment figures the administration and his department had achieved for American workers.
“A record 157 million Americans are working. America has the lowest unemployment rate going into a Labor Day since 1969 at 3.7%, which continues the rate at or below 4% for 17 months in a row,” Pizzella said.
“There are 7.3 million open jobs in the U.S. and there have been more open jobs than job seekers for 16 straight months. This is great news for Americans looking for work and those seeking to return to the labor force,” he added.
Video shines spotlight on achievements
Pizzella also noted in his statement that “The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.”
That message was echoed in a special video the Labor Department produced in honor of the holiday that was jam-packed with good employment news, such as higher wages in addition to record jobs numbers, not to mention fewer workplace injuries and fatalities than in previous years and reduced regulations that hamper the ability of businesses to grow and create opportunities for even more American workers.
Watch below:
Presidential Proclamation
President Trump also weighed in with a Presidential Proclamation for Labor Day, which said, “We recognize the remarkable American workers who comprise the greatest labor force in the world. American workers are the heart and soul of our Nation’s economic resurgence,” and reiterated his vow to continue pressing an agenda that placed the interests of American workers above all else.
Noting the economic impact of his administration’s “pro-growth policies,” the president said, “Since my election, the American economy has added more than 6 million new jobs, and for the past 17 months, the unemployment rate has held near record lows. In 2017, as the unemployment rate decreased, the rates of injuries and illnesses in the workplace also declined. Additionally, employers are paying higher wages, which are rising at the fastest pace in a decade. Jobs are consistently becoming available faster than people can fill them.”
All of this is wonderful news for American workers and is only possible due to the thriving economy that has come about solely due to Trump’s “America First” approach. Barring a change at the White House or any unforeseen economic calamity, the amazing achievements highlighted here will only be improved upon, and new historic records set, as we continue moving toward the goal of not only making America great again but keeping it great.