Washington, D.C. (September 6, 2013) – Today’s report that construction unemployment remains stalled at 9.1%, 25% worse than the national average, is bad news for construction workers. One month since President Obama’s series of economic speeches calling for investments in infrastructure that will create tens of thousands of new construction jobs, Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers' International Union of North America – issued the following statement on today’s jobs report coming out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“With job levels only slowly returning to what we saw when the President first took office, construction workers are now putting in more weekly hours than ever before, but without any real increase in wages. LIUNA calls on members of Congress in both parties and President Obama to enact legislation that fully invests in a long term program to rebuild our nation's crumbling roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure. These jobs will help more working men and women in our country earn a family-supporting wage, affordable healthcare and a secure retirement.”

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Background:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Weekly Hours: Tenth of a point from all-time high
• Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Weekly Earnings: Unchanged by more than 10%
• President Obama Remarks on Economy in Kansas: “Over 1 million construction workers… should be rebuilding our roads and our bridges”

The half-million members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America. For the latest news, check out our media kit here.