Unemployment falls to 3.9%, economy added 199,000 jobs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that during the month of December the total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 199,000, falling short of economists’ expectations of 422,000 job gains.
The unemployment rate declined to 3.9%, 0.3 percentage point down from November. The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 61.9% in December but remains 1.5 percentage points lower than in February 2020.
Last month, employment continued to trend up in the following job sectors: leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, manufacturing, construction, and transportation and warehousing.
Many elected officials in Mississippi were not pleased with the December jobs report, calling it a “disappointment” and saying it is not “boding well for early 2022.” U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) along with Congressman Michael Guest (R-03) took to social media to express their discontent.
“Progressives have prioritized wasteful gov spending that has stifled our economy while increasing inflation. We must prioritize fiscally conservative policies to right our economic ship,” Congressman Guest tweeted.
The Dec jobs report is a disappointment. We should be addressing the labor shortage, but Progressives have prioritized wasteful gov spending that has stifled our economy while increasing inflation. We must prioritize fiscally conservative policies to right our economic ship.
— Congressman Michael Guest (@RepMichaelGuest) January 7, 2022
Senator Hyde-Smith shared in Guest’s disappointment, adding, “These disappointing numbers, combined with the ongoing Omicron surge, don’t bode well for early 2022.”
Another #jobsreport that falls well below expectations. Just 199k jobs added as opposed to the predicted 450k. These disappointing numbers, combined with the ongoing #omicron surge, don’t bode well for early 2022. https://t.co/McgTrKGVhD
— U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (@SenHydeSmith) January 7, 2022
Senator Wicker stated that last month’s jobs report is proof that, “Congress should work to rein in the White House and lay the groundwork for businesses and workers to thrive.”
Under President Biden’s leadership, our economy continues to flounder.
Last month’s jobs report confirms that Congress should work to rein in the White House and lay the groundwork for businesses and workers to thrive.https://t.co/4HDYwUZ88X
— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) January 7, 2022
Anne Summerhays
