Pelosi Statement on Disappointing May Jobs Report: Fifth Straight Month of Job Losses

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement after the Department of Labor released its employment report for May showing a loss of 49,000 jobs, and an unemployment rate that increased to 5.5 percent - the biggest monthly rise since 1986. The economy has lost nearly 325,000 since the beginning of the year:

"Today's alarming rise in the unemployment rate is further evidence of the need for a New Direction in our nation's economy. Since the beginning of this year, our nation has lost nearly 325,000 jobs, including 49,000 in the month of May alone. Those men and women, and millions more, are facing additional economic pressure as gasoline, food and health care costs climb precipitously.

"The New Direction Congress will send the President legislation to provide urgently needed assistance to millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Just as we worked cooperatively in passing a stimulus plan to put $117 billion into the hands of more than 130 million Americans, we urge the President to support legislation to address the needs of America's unemployed and struggling workers. Today's unemployment numbers demonstrate that this is an urgent challenge."