From AFL-CIO Pres. Richard Trumka:

The gain of 230,000 private sector jobs in March, on top of 240,000 in February, is welcome news to working people anxious for signs of a sustained spring economic thaw.

But with over 13 million Americans out of work and an unemployment rate of 8.8 percent, we have a long way to go.  It is especially important that we guard against serious threats to a still fragile economic recovery—falling housing prices, rising food and energy prices and politicians seeking irresponsible budget cuts that could undermine our economic progress.

It is a serious concern for still-struggling working families and communities that employment in local government has plummeted by 416,000 jobs since an employment peak in September 2008.  The last thing our economy and our country need is cuts in public services that are political choices, not wise long-term budget and investment decisions.

As we look to continue to create jobs and be globally competitive, now is the time—as President Obama has said—to invest in education, in technology and in our nation's crumbling infrastructure. Fixing our broken roads, bridges and schools and finding new and creative ways to finance the investments needed for our future transcend political business as usual, and they are the key to national competitiveness, manufacturing revival and, most importantly, good jobs.