“Our nation’s labor market posted growth in the month of September. Nonfarm payroll employment added 137,000 private sector jobs, exceeding expectations, and total nonfarm payroll jobs grew by 103,000. Additionally, the reported July and August jobs numbers were revised significantly upward, meaning that we added 99,000 more jobs during those two months than previously was reported. The unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent.

“I am encouraged by much of the recent data we’re seeing, but we know more must be done to speed our recovery. Second quarter gross domestic product growth was revised up, building permits were up, industrial production was up, export growth was up, consumer confidence was up, and personal spending was up. What this shows is that our economy responds positively when Washington curtails the public bickering and pledges to work together to solve the jobs crisis. If we want these trends to continue, our lawmakers must now match their words with votes.