July 2010 Unemployment Figures

WASHINGTON - The unemployment rate held steady in July at 9.5 percent. The pace of growth has not been enough to reduce the deep valley of jobs lost in 2008 and 2009.

Overall payroll employment decreased 131,000 caused largely by the ending of temporary Census employment. Private sector employment rose 71,000.

A key economic advisor to the White House, Christina Roma, chair of the council of economic advisers, declares, “We have made substantial progress from the days when employment was declining by 750,000 a month.  But, today’s employment report emphasizes just how important the additional jobs measures before Congress are. In addition to the state fiscal relief nearing passage, the President strongly supports the small business jobs bill and targeted incentives for clean energy investments.”