Source: PRESS RELEASE, 3/8/19

U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the February 2019 Employment Situation report: "At 3.4% year-over-year, wage gains hit their highest mark since April 2009.  The year-over-year average hourly earnings growth surpassing 3.0% for the seventh straight month is good news for America's workers.

"The unemployment rate declined to 3.8% resulting in a year-long streak at or below 4.0%. The unemployment drop included a new record low for Hispanic-Americans.  The labor force participation rate held at 63.2% in February, matching the January report and the highest rate since August 2013."

"America's workforce continues to grow, with 20,000 new jobs created in February and upward revisions of 12,000 jobs from prior months.  The last three months saw an average job gain of 186,000 jobs. This month's jobs report highlights the importance of focusing on workforce investment that builds the skills needed to fill the record amount of open jobs."