The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the November jobs report, which showed that American businesses created more than 300,000 jobs last month and reducing unemployment to 5.8 percent. In fact, over the first 11 months of 2014, our businesses have created 2.65 million jobs — more than any year since the 1990s. Our businesses have now created 10.9 million jobs over the past 57 months — the longest streak of job creation on record.

In addition, the pickup in the pace of job growth this year has been in industries with higher wages. And overall wages are rising – a very welcome sign for millions of Americans.

Last week, the President spoke to the Business Roundtable about economic opportunities and challenges and at the White House Tribal Nations Conference where he remarked on the Grand Jury’s decision on the death of Eric Garner. You can read more about these issues below.

On a more personal note, this is unfortunately the last newsletter from Ari and Sam, who are both leaving the White House and moving into the private sector.

As always, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with any questions or concerns at Business@who.eop.gov.

The White House Business Team,

Ari, Nate, Sam, and Quinn

The Employment Situation in November

Job growth in November was strong, and the economy has now already added more jobs in 2014 than in any full calendar year since the late 1990s. To create an environment in which this progress can continue, it is critical that Congress take the basic steps needed to fund the government and avoid creating disruptive and counterproductive fiscal uncertainty. We have an opportunity to work together to support the continued growth of higher-paying jobs by investing in infrastructure, reforming the business tax code, expanding markets for America’s goods and services, making common sense reforms to the immigration system, and increasing the minimum wage.

The private sector has added 10.9 million jobs over 57 straight months of job growth, extending the longest streak on record. On Friday, we learned that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 321,000 in November, mainly reflecting a 314,000 increase in private employment–the third strongest month for private payrolls over the past 57 months. Private-sector job growth was revised up for September and October by a combined 32,000, so that over the past three months, private-sector job growth has averaged 266,000 per month. Private employment has risen by at least 200,000 for ten consecutive months, the first time that has happened since the 1990s. In addition, the average workweek in the private sector rose to 34.6 hours in November, the highest since 2008.

See the rest of the five key points from the jobs report here.

President Obama Speaks with the Business Roundtable

Last week, President Obama spoke with Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs of some of the country’s leading companies, at an event in Washington, D.C. The President discussed where our economy and our country stand, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead:

“Around this time six years ago, America’s businesses were shedding about 800,000 jobs per month. Today, our businesses, including some of the most important businesses in the world that are represented here today, have created over 10.6 million new jobs; 56 months of uninterrupted job growth, which is the longest private sector job growth in our history. We just saw the best six-month period of economic growth in over a decade. For the first time in six years, the unemployment rate is under 6 percent.”

“All told, the United States of America, over the last six years, has put more people back to work than Europe, Japan, and the rest of the advanced world combined. And that’s a record for us to build on.”

President Barack Obama delivers remarks and participates in a Q&A during the quarterly meeting of the Business Roundtable at the Business Roundtable Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama addressed the progress still to come, identifying common-sense things we should be doing but aren’t, largely because of politics or ideological gridlock — issues including infrastructure investment, tax reform, trade, and immigration reform. “I’ve already spoken to Speaker Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell, and what I’ve said to them is that I am prepared to work with them on areas where we agree, recognizing there are going to be some areas where we just don’t agree,” he said.

See the President’s full remarks here.

President Obama Delivers a Statement on the Grand Jury Decision in the Death of Eric Garner

Last Tuesday, a grand jury in Staten Island decided not to bring criminal charges against police officers involved in the tragic death of Eric Garner. Speaking at the 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference Tuesday evening, President Obama delivered the following statement:

“Some of you may have heard there was a decision that came out today by a grand jury not to indict police officers who had interacted with an individual with Eric Garner in New York City, all of which was caught on videotape and speaks to the larger issues that we’ve been talking about now for the last week, the last month, the last year, and, sadly, for decades, and that is the concern on the part of too many minority communities that law enforcement is not working with them and dealing with them in a fair way.

“And there’s going to be, I’m sure, additional statements by law enforcement. My tradition is not to remark on cases where there may still be an investigation. But I want everybody to understand that this week, in the wake of Ferguson, we initiated a task force whose job it is to come back to me with specific recommendations about how we strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color and minority communities that feel that bias is taking place; that we are going to take specific steps to improve the training and the work with state and local governments when it comes to policing in communities of color; that we are going to be scrupulous in investigating cases where we are concerned about the impartiality and accountability that’s taking place.”

See the rest of the President’s statement here.

Learn more about the President’s plan to help build trust between communities and law enforcement.

“I can’t breathe.”

Those were Eric Garner’s last words after being put in a chokehold by a Staten Island police officer. He shouted repeatedly from the ground, gasping for breath, as bystanders watched in horror.¹

If you haven’t already, please listen to the devastating audio of Eric Garner’s final moments. His last words ring as a call to all of us—to pay attention and to act.

And then, please share this with five friends who might not be fully aware of the protests that have erupted across the country, led by young people of color crying out for justice.

Listen and share the audio of Eric Garner’s last words.

Garner’s death—and the subsequent refusal of the Staten Island grand jury to hold the police accountable—have ignited a massive outcry, as people are flooding the streets in dozens of cities with eloquent and peaceful protests.

Now we’re at a turning point. This wave of public revulsion and outrage can help change the culture and policies that have been enabling police violence in communities of color for far, far too long. But only if enough people really tune in and take action.

For those of us who are already in motion, thank you. For the rest of us, let’s make sure we really hear Eric Garner’s last words and the moral call to act that they represent. They’re hard to take—but that doesn’t mean we can turn away.

Please listen and share Eric Garner’s last words.

Thank you for all you do.

–Corinne, Justin R., Erica, Anna, and the rest of the team

P.S. Check out FergusonAction.com to find ongoing peaceful demonstrations in your area.

Source:

1. “Protesters Fill the Streets Across the Country Over Decision in Eric Garner Case,” New York Times, December 4, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=301950&id=105527-17809870-KHfgCWx&t=3

In a state like Washington — a state connected to the world by the ocean, the interstate, and the air — our roads, bridges, ferries, airports, and rails make up a vital system that feeds our economy and prepares us for the future.

We can’t let investments in this infrastructure — infrastructure that creates jobs and keeps our families safe — be derailed by another political showdown.

When the next legislative session starts, I’m ready to work with our state’s leaders to create a plan that works for everyone — but I want to know you’re standing with me.

Do you want a transportation plan that works for Washington to be a top priority in the next legislative session? Click here to show your support.

Our state’s transportation infrastructure is long overdue for repairs and upgrades. But when the last legislative session ended, so did our hopes for a comprehensive transportation plan to be passed in 2014.

We can’t let that happen again.

I’ve already invited state legislators to meet with me and help develop a plan that works for Washington. That plan must do several things: fund desperately needed repairs and replacement of structurally deficient roads and bridges, support a multiplicity of transit options — from cars and freight trains to buses and ferries, and create jobs for Washington workers.

I believe we can develop a plan that is sustainable and ensures safe, reliable ways to move people and products whether by car, bus, bike, rail, boat, or plane. And I want to work with our state’s leaders to make that plan a reality.

But to make that happen, I need to show that I have your support. I need to make it clear that Washington wants the passage of a forward-thinking, sustainable transportation plan to be one of our top priorities in the upcoming legislative session.

Help me make Washington roads and bridges safe and create new jobs for workers. Click here to declare that you believe Washington needs a comprehensive transportation plan now.

Thanks for your support.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee

By CAP Action War Room

A Remarkably Positive Jobs Report, With A Reminder That There’s More To Do

The November jobs report was released today, and it brought a lot of good news. The U.S. economy added 321,000 jobs in November, well exceeding analysts’ expectations of 230,000. The unemployment rate remained at 5.8 percent. But the report also offers a reminder of the struggles that many working Americans continue to feel in the sluggish recovery.

The monthly jobs report doesn’t provide a comprehensive view of how our economy is doing, but it does offer an important glimpse into some of the macro employment and wage trends that reflect whether the economy is growing, and who is sharing in that growth. Here are five charts that show what to be happy about, and why we need to continue to work so that everyone has a chance for economic opportunity and prosperity.

1. A first for the U.S. economy: 50 straight months of job growth

CREDIT: DPCC

There have now been 50 straight months of payroll job growth — which has never happened before in the U.S. economy. 2014 will have them most job growth of any year since 1999.

2. Job growth is coming from full-time employment, not part-time.

Not all jobs are created equal. The good news, over the last few years, is that employment growth is coming from full-time, not part-time work.

3. Involuntary part-time work is decreasing — but still high.

CREDIT: Vox

The number of people working part-time for economic reasons declined by 177,000 from October to November. But years into the economic recovery, the number remains persistently high.

4. Wage growth continues to be sluggish.

Average weekly earnings rose faster than they have in a year, by 2.4 percent. But this economic expansion has brought slower wage growth than previous ones have: comparing this recover to the past three, it is doing 5 percent worse.

5. The share of Americans in the labor force is still historically low.

The unemployment rate measures those who are out of work–but are still looking. The percentage of able-bodied adults of working age who are not looking for work remains high and clues us into some of the economic pessimism still being felt.

BOTTOM LINE: The November jobs report brought lots of good news that we hope can continue in the months to come. But this isn’t the time to declare victory: this is the foundation we need to jump start growth that benefits everyone, not just the wealthy few.