Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2013) – In response to the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly jobs report showing an improvement in the construction unemployment rate, from 9.1 percent in August to 8.5 percent in September, Terry O’Sullivan, who represents thousands of members who were impacted by the Republican government shutdown as General President of LIUNA – the Laborers' International Union of North America – issued the following statement:

“After needless delays due to the economic brinksmanship by some on the Tea Party fringe, we have a jobs report that shows a long-overdue uptick in construction jobs and other sectors up until the Republican shutdown of our federal government, which resulted in thousands of furloughed LIUNA workers. Despite the drop in unemployment, wages for the men and women who build America continue to stagnate, without a significant increase from a year ago. To continue creating jobs and improving wages, we urge Congress to pass legislation that invests in our crumbling roads, bridges and waterways and reforms our broken immigration system, so that every worker has a chance to realize the American Dream.”

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Background:

• BLS Construction Unemployment: Improves from 9.1% to 8.5%
• BLS Construction Hourly Wages: Preliminary figure is 21.14