WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the December 2024 Employment Situation report:“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 256,000 jobs in December, well above market expectations and reflecting a robust and resilient labor market. With unemployment ticking down to 4.1 percent and the three-month average of payroll employment gains at 170,000, this report underscores the strength of our economy as we close out 2024. “December was a particularly strong month for sectors like private healthcare, retail and government, while construction growth over the past year has been driven by non-residential projects. This is also the first economic recovery since the 1970’s in which manufacturing jobs have fully recovered - a testament to the investments and leadership of this administration. “The labor force participation rate held steady at 62.5 percent, and wages continue to grow across industries and occupations, putting more money in the pockets of American workers. The Biden-Harris administration did exactly what it said it would do: recover from the pandemic stronger than ever. The United States is the envy of the world, the only nation that has truly bounced back from the challenges of the pandemic. With pride, we hand the next administration an economy and a labor market that are strong and resilient, with opportunities for workers at their core.”