WALNUT CREEK, CA – Congressman John Garamendi, (D-Walnut Creek, California), today issued the following statement after the Labor Department reported that unemployment in America dropped from 10.2 percent to 10 percent in November:

"Today’s announcement that the unemployment rate dropped in November is welcomed news for the millions of American workers, including tens of thousands of people in my district, struggling to find a job in this difficult economy. The Recovery Act and other jobs-creating measures have laid down the building blocks to repair our economy."

In November, America lost only 11,000 jobs, an unexpectedly low figure. Revised job reports from September and October also show that the economy shed 160,000 jobs fewer than initially projected in those two months. A measure of unemployment that includes the underemployed and those who have given up searching for work also saw a drop in November, from 17.5 to 17.2 percent. 15.4 million Americans remain unemployed. Added Congressman Garamendi:

"Our efforts have kept teachers, nurses, and police officers in their jobs and boots are already on the ground to rebuild our roads, bridges, and public transportation systems. There is much more to be done to create jobs, and I will be there every step of the way."

A report released by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office this week found that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) created or saved 600,000 to 1.6 million jobs in third quarter 2009 alone. This figure does not measure indirect job creation from most sub-contractors and vendors or from area businesses able to hire or retain staff when ARRA-assisted workers put money back into the economy. Most economists think ARRA is on pace to create or save 3.5 million jobs by 2010.

Congressman Garamendi has authored two recent op-eds on job recovery, Recovery: The Proof is in the Pudding at the Worksite and Because Recovery Works, 3.5 Million Americans to Work Too.

Congressman Garamendi sits on the House Transportation & Infrastructure and House Science & Technology committees. For more information, please visit https://garamendi.house.gov.