WASHINGTON—Today’s employment report marks the sixth straight month of better-than-expected growth, with 638,000 new and returned jobs, and the unemployment rate declining to 6.9%. Rachel Greszler, a research fellow in Heritage’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, released the following response:

America’s continued improvement occurred without additional federal spending, but rather by individuals, families, businesses, charitable organizations, and places of worship taking actions to safely return to most activities, while working to help those in need.

While the economy as a whole makes considerable progress, some areas of the country are not faring as well as others. In particular, where state and local policymakers have imposed excessive restrictions on society and not allowed in-person education options, more households and businesses are struggling. In states with full or partial school closure orders, unemployment averaged 9.5% in September, compared to 6.7% among those with no orders or mandated openings.

 

Now is the time for policymakers to avoid burdening taxpayers with the inevitable consequences of even more unnecessary stimulus spending and instead focus on fostering environments that keep work opportunities open for all Americans.