JEC News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 150,000 in October and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9%.

The unemployment rate was 5.8% for Black workers, 4.8% for Hispanic workers, 3.5% for white workers, 3.1% for Asian workers, and 6.7% (not seasonally adjusted) for American Indian and Alaska Native workers.

“Job growth remains strong, and wages are still on the rise – the work that the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress are doing to bolster our economy is paying off.

“That work continues. I was thrilled to hear President Biden’s announcement this week of $5 billion in upcoming investments to create and expand economic opportunity in rural America. That funding will mean more jobs in rural communities across the country so that people don’t have to leave their hometowns in order to support their families. It will mean lower energy and health care costs and better infrastructure. No community or family should be left behind, and I’ll keep working to make sure ours in New Mexico have access to these kinds of opportunities for economic growth and development.”