JEC News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), released the following statement today after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 353,000 in January and the unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent.

The unemployment rate was 5.3 percent for Black workers, 5.0 percent for Hispanic workers, 3.4 percent for white workers, 2.9 percent for Asian workers, and 6.7 percent (not seasonally adjusted) for American Indian and Alaska Native workers.

“We started off the year on a strong economic note, reaching 36 consecutive months of job growth – that’s job growth every single month since President Biden took office, for more than 14 million jobs created under his administration. And as this administration invests in ambitious climate action and major infrastructure projects from coast to coast, we’re seeing even more good-paying jobs in sectors that will help power a growing clean economy and unlock economic opportunities in New Mexico and in communities across the country.

“We’re working in Congress to give families more economic breathing room with the Child Tax Credit Expansion in the bipartisan tax bill the House passed this week, and that I hope the Senate will vote on soon. That expansion will help lift nearly half a million kids out of poverty next year and will benefit close to 16 million kids in the first year alone, including 140,000 in New Mexico. This investment will help working families afford the rising costs of childcare and help provide all of our kids with opportunities to succeed – a true bipartisan win, and a win for families in New Mexico and nationwide.”