AUGUSTA, ME – In response to the March jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor, which revealed the economy added 192,000 new jobs, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement calling on Congress to find middle ground on a minimum wage increase:

“After months of moderate job growth, today’s report is welcomed news – and when taken in combination with the revised January and February employment numbers, we are moving in the right direction. However, Congress still needs to do much more to help millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet.

“It is time to raise the minimum wage. For working Americans, this isn’t about jobs reports or politics, it’s about their livelihood. It’s time for Congress to come together and give these hardworking Americans a raise.”

The Department of Labor reports that the economy added 192,000 jobs in March and that the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7 percent. The report also revised January employment gains upward to 144,000 and February gains to 197,000. The Senate is expected to take up a proposal to raise the minimum wage in the coming weeks.

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