MARK BRENNER
Brenner, labor economist and director of Labor Notes, said today: “Today’s better-than-expected jobs numbers are being trumpeted by the Obama administration and other beltway insiders, anxious for signs that the Great Recession is over and recovery underway. But examining the 230,000 new private sector jobs created last month offers less reason to cheer and reveal the weak roots of the recovery.

“If you dig into the numbers, I think there should be a lot more hand-wringing than backslapping. If you think you can build a recovery around more Home Depot cashiers and Wal-Mart greeters you need to have your head examined.

“Almost half of the new jobs in the private sector are in low-wage occupations like retail trade, food service, and temporary services, with few signs of life in higher wage occupations. If you’re looking for jobs that can help you pay for a mortgage or send your kids to college, you’re out of luck.”

Brenner also warned that “once the ax starts falling on state and local budgets, private sector growth is likely to stall, if not completely reverse in some sectors, most notably in healthcare where government funds account for one out of every two dollars spent.”

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167