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Latest Unemployment Numbers Prove Need for Bold Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by the Center for Community Change
Friday, Feb 05, 2010Contact: Germonique R. Ulmer gulmer@communitychange.org 202-339-9331
Washington – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its latest unemployment figures. The following is a statement by Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change:
“Let’s not start celebrating. Today’s slight decrease in the unemployment rate to 9.7 percent, while encouraging, tells only half of the story. Our sluggish recovery is bypassing communities of color. Black unemployment rose to a record 16.5 percent and unemployment numbers are unchanged in the Hispanic community.
“It would be more encouraging if the economy had added jobs, but the decrease came from millions of Americans who have become so discouraged about their employment prospects that they have stopped looking completely. And it’s no wonder they’re discouraged when our economy has shed 8.4 million jobs since December 2007.
“Congress can fix this by investing in a large scale, federally funded community jobs program that will put people to work quickly, providing state and local governments the fiscal relief they need, and continuing to extend unemployment insurance and Cobra payments set to expire at the end of this month.
“America can get on a faster road to recovery if we stop thinking small and take bold steps to revive our economy.”
Since 1968, the Center for Community Change has strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.
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