President Joe Biden announced positive news in the September Jobs Report, highlighting the creation of over 250,000 new jobs and a drop in unemployment to 4.1%. Biden emphasized that his administration has created 16 million jobs, with unemployment at its lowest in 50 years and inflation declining. He credited the power of collective bargaining for improving wages and called on Congress to pass legislation to build housing, cap prescription drug prices, empower workers, and cut taxes for families. He contrasted these efforts with Congressional Republicans’ proposals, which he claimed would favor the wealthy and raise costs for the middle class.
Statement from President Joe Biden on the September Jobs Report
Today, we received good news for American workers and families with more than 250,000 new jobs in September and unemployment back down at 4.1%. With today’s report, we’ve created 16 million jobs, unemployment remains low, and wages are growing faster than prices. Under my Administration, unemployment has been the lowest in 50 years, a record 19 million new businesses have been created, and inflation and interest rates are falling. And we’re seeing the power of collective bargaining to lift up workers’ wages—including the progress made by dockworkers on record wages with carriers, and port operators and the reopening of East Coast and Gulf ports.
Make no mistake: We have more to do to lower costs and expand opportunity. Congress should pass our plan to build millions of new homes, expand prescription drug price caps, empower workers and protect the right to organize, and cut taxes for hardworking families. Congressional Republicans have a different plan—more giant tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations, ending the Affordable Care Act, undermining workers by cutting overtime and making it harder to organize, and imposing a national sales tax that would raise costs by nearly $4,000 per year. While they put billionaires first, we’ll keep fighting to grow the middle class.
October 04, 2024 Washington, DC
Questions from Critics (Republicans):
- How sustainable is the current job growth given the concerns about inflation and interest rates?
- How will the administration address the concerns of small businesses regarding the rising costs of wages due to collective bargaining?
- Are there plans to ensure that these job gains translate into real, long-term economic stability rather than temporary growth?
Questions from Democrats:
- What additional measures are planned to further reduce costs for housing and healthcare?
- How will the administration ensure that wage growth keeps pace with any future inflation?
- What specific steps will be taken to expand worker protections and collective bargaining rights nationwide?
Sources: White House WH.gov, Midtown Tribune
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