WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Today`s unemployment report confirmed that in the U.S. job market, the hardest
hit sector continues to be the construction industry, a key driver of our
economy.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction unemployment rose from
17.1 percent in September to 18.7 percent in October. That reflects the loss of
62,000 construction jobs in one month, bringing to more than 1.6 million the
number of construction jobs lost since the recession began.
Terry O`Sullivan, General President of LIUNA made the following statement today
regarding the jobs report:
Each month tens of thousands of men and women who want to do the job of building
America are being thrown out of work. The toll on families, communities,
employers and our economy is of crisis proportions.
Construction jobs tend to be good jobs, with workers` incomes quickly
circulating through and boosting local economies. The work of men and women in
the construction industry provides sorely needed improvements to our
transportation systems, energy systems and other basics of our nation.
This is a no-brainer. We can put hundreds of thousands of men and women back to
work, boost our economy and build America, while leaving behind real assets and
a positive legacy for generations to come.
We call on Congress to quickly move forward to bring stability to the
construction industry and stop the hemorrhaging of jobs through every possible
option - including an end to delays on reauthorization of our nation`s surface
transportation investment, which alone would support 2.8 million jobs.
The 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.
LIUNA
Jacob Hay, 202-445-4788
jhay@liuna.org
Copyright Business Wire 2009
