Jobs Growth in the U.S.

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Jobs Growth in the U.S. failed to meet expectations for May 2005, when the smallest jobs growth in 21 months of 78,000 entering the workforce fell far below the 185,500 prediction. [1]

Earlier Statistics

On February 19, 2004, the White House web page on "Jobs & Economic Growth" stated that, in January 2004, "112,000 Americans Find Work in January" and the "Unemployment Rate Below Average Level of 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s."

Election 2004 Issue

Jobs growth in the U.S., or the lack thereof, emerged as a major issue for U.S. presidential election, 2004.

For example, Fox News reported on March 5, 2004, that "As a Labor Department report Friday showed February's job growth to be far less than expected, presumptive Democratic nominee John Forbes Kerry had a lot to work with as he criticized President Bush." [2]

Although employment has shrunk by 2.2 million jobs since January 2001, the larger problem is the lack of job growth. To keep up with the historic rate of job growth due to population growth, 7.6 million jobs should have been created. [3][4]

Quotes

  • "'At this rate the Bush administration won't create its first job for more than 10 years,' Kerry told reporters on his way to New Orleans on Friday, [March 5, 2004] where he was attending a rally with several prominent Democrats, headed by Sens. John Breaux and Mary Landrieu." [5]
  • "'Americans have a clear choice in this election,' [Kerry] continued. 'They can either suffer more and more job losses, or give George W. Bush a new job in November and start putting Americans back to work.'" [6]
  • "If Democratic policies had been pursued over the last two-to-three years, the kind of tax increases both Kerry and Edwards are talking about, we would not have had the kind of job growth that we've had." -- Dick Cheney [7].

State of the Union 2003

In his State of the Union 2003 address, President George W. Bush announced The Jobs and Growth Act of 2003, which was signed on May 28, 2003. The Act promised that, in 2003, "91 million taxpayers will receive, on average, a tax cut of $1,126."

The Act concluded with the following statement:

"The President is optimistic that the Jobs and Growth Act of 2003 will grow the economy and create new jobs. The President will not be satisfied until every American who is looking for work can find it; every business has a chance to grow; and prosperity reaches every corner of America."

Child Labor

Related SourceWatch Resources

External links

2004

2005