National manufacturing group says U.S. job growth ‘unacceptable’
by July 12, 2016 9:27 am 118 views
The U.S. economy is not creating jobs fast enough, according to one industry trade organization.
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), called the rise in unemployment rate reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs numbers “unacceptable” in a statement issued through the organization’s website.
“While many in Washington may claim today’s (July 8) report is a positive development, the bottom line is that an increase in the unemployment rate is unacceptable,” Timmons said. “Our economy isn’t creating jobs fast enough, especially manufacturing jobs.”
In June, the BLS reported an additional 14,000 in manufacturing jobs, but the U.S. has lost 24,000 manufacturing jobs so far in 2016.
Timmons called on elected leaders at the federal level as well as candidates on the campaign trail to address the shortfall and tell what they would do to “remove barriers to economic growth.”
“It’s frustrating for manufacturers to hear both major party candidates pretend the solution is to bash free trade and perpetuate myths about the Trans-Pacific Partnership and trade agreements in general,” Timmons said. “It’s time for this isolationist rhetoric to stop. It helps no one – except our competitors in the global economy.”
He continued: “The United States should be writing the rules on trade. Trade opens up opportunities for manufacturers in the United States to reach new customers with our products, strengthening our economy and creating good jobs.”