U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a member of the House Budget Committee and Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that November’s job growth was strong with 178,000 jobs created and unemployment falling to just 4.6 percent. This followed news that GDP growth was also higher than expected at 3.2 percent in the third quarter of 2016.

"While these are hopeful signs, too many are still struggling to get ahead. I stand ready to work with the new Administration on higher minimum wage, stronger worker protections, and getting manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.," Rep. Pascrell said. "A good place to start is the higher income threshold at which employers must pay overtime. The next Administration should appeal the injunction on the overtime rule. No secretary or maintenance worker making $30,000 a year should be working long hours without compensation. Especially in New Jersey, workers face high housing costs, property taxes, and food costs, and every dollar earned goes a long way."

The unemployment rate for men declined to 4.3 percent. Jobs in health care, business services, and construction industries grew across the board. Residential construction in particular is growing steadily, a positive sign for the health of our economy.