WASHINGTON, D.C.– Fourteen states have set new records for low unemployment levels in the last year, according to a recent report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As reported by The Hill, eight states saw new record lows in March, including Hawaii (2.1 percent), Idaho (2.9 percent), Kentucky (4 percent), Maine (2.7 percent), Mississippi (4.5 percent), Oregon (4.1 percent) and Wisconsin (2.9 percent).
California also set record lows with the Golden State’s unemployment rate dropping to 4.1 percent, as did Colorado which saw an unemployment rate of just 2.6 percent.
In addition to record low unemployment levels, wages have also increased in recent months. According to the BLS report, average hourly earnings of nonfarm employees averaged $26.82 in March, up from March 2017’s average of $26.11.
The growing American economy and passage of a Republican tax overhaul appear benefitting President Trump as well. According to a newly released poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the president’s approval rating continues to climb in response to America’s booming economic numbers.
As documented in the report, nearly half of Americans surveyed — 47 percent — say they approve of how Trump is handling the economy, his highest rating thus far on any one particular issue. When it comes to tax policy, 46 percent of Americans back Trump’s moves and say they have benefitted personally from the president’s tax reform act.
Heather Dilios, a 46-year-old social worker from Topsham, Maine, told The Washington Times she’s now taking home between $100 to $200 more per paycheck as a result of the new tax law, more than she expected when Trump signed the legislation.
“It’s more about being able to keep what is rightfully mine rather than giving it to the government,” said Dilios.
March’s numbers follow February’s job boom, during which 313,000 new jobs were created in the U.S.
“Job growth was the strongest since President Trump’s election, with 313,000 jobs created in the month of February,” the U.S. Department of Commerce reported March 9. “The non-stop job creation since the election has yielded 2.9 million jobs. For the fifth month in a row, the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, a 17-year low. Goods-producing industries such as manufacturing, mining and logging, and construction collectively had the highest month-to-month growth since 1998. These were among many sectors experiencing significant growth.”
“President Trump’s tax reform continues to boost economic confidence with more than 400 companies handing out bonuses, raises, or other benefits to more than 4 million Americans,” the report continued. “Today’s report shows that average hourly earnings significantly increased in February and have increased by 2.6% over the last year. We saw positive movement in the labor force participation rate, and we would like to see that continue over the coming months.”
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