U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) today issued the following statement on the national unemployment rate for January 2012 dropping from 8.5 percent to 8.3 percent:
“Under President Obama, we have now seen 23 straight months of private sector job growth, but it is clear that more needs to be done to get unemployed Americans back to work. The problems we face did not happen overnight and won’t be solved overnight either.
“While the economy is picking up steam, it could be revving even more if the Republicans would put politics aside and support President Obama’s blueprint for an economy that’s built to last. They continue to oppose every tried-and-true measure we propose, while clinging to their trickle-down economic theory that has been overwhelmingly disproven by the facts. I continue to hold out hope that my Republican colleagues will take their foot off the brake and do the right thing to reignite the American Dream for working Floridians and their families.”
The private sector added 257,000 jobs in the month of January, with the unemployment rate dropping from 8.5 percent to 8.3 percent.
Among African-Americans, unemployment fell substantially in January – from 15.8 percent to 13.6 percent.
After the enormous success of the job fair that Congresswoman Wilson held last year, she will be holding another one this spring that will focus on the travel and tourism industry, as a means of lowering the local unemployment rate by connecting South Florida employers with prospective employees.
Congresswoman Wilson is also excited about the private sector’s involvement in the Obama administration’s Summer Jobs+ program, which will create nearly 180,000 employment opportunities for low-income youth in the summer of 2012.
“Summer Jobs+ will give our young people the opportunity to learn the skills and work ethic that they need to succeed,” said Rep. Wilson. “It’s important for their future, and for the future of our country.”
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Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term Congresswoman representing the 17th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. She is a former state legislator and school principal and the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.
