Solis: Good Time for Education, Job Training

" Well October unemployment rate surging higher than expected to ten point 2%. It is 826 year high joining us now labor secretary -- so leave good morning secretary thank you for being here. I am telling you I I'm -- I -- your little disappointed a little concerned this morning walk me through your reaction to this morning's number. Well you mentioned. That the figure of ten point two. Percent is is rather high we know that. But we expected -- economists were talking that we would reach this level however I I have to bring you back to where we started the beginning of the year where we're seeing job losses it. Well over 1300000. Thereof and then in the middle of the year he started to see a tremendous reduction there now we're in this you know vital. Or that -- court here we're actually seeing it the numbers have gone down to a 190000. And I believe that the foundation that the president has laid -- recovery act. Has helped to provide that stimulus that was necessary GDP is up by 3.5 percent. Job losses they've finished down 390000. We did see some peak in jobs for example in health. It education. We did see also temporary business cola where we know when you think about it temp worker it's not just the secretary -- consultant it's a business analyst at an accountant. Individuals that are highly professional. We do see some movement in terms of other manufacturing today also the president will be signing the extension of the unemployment benefits. Providing relief but also attacked and it for first time home buyers and also for businesses so I think these are good steps. It we're taking course we're not happy with the high unemployment rate but we're going to work every single day we're determined to turn this around."

" He you know that the issue that a lot of people in the look at at madam secretary is yet the numbers in terms nonfarm payrolls or improving. But if you look at the number of workers. Each -- month over month by 31000. So the weight rose even though the pool schlock that. That cannot be a good sign what do you do about. What we want to do is encourage people then to get into. Visit our one stop centers so they can get into these job training programs we know that people that have. Good job training and education are the ones that are most likely to stay in the job market and have a better chance of getting that job. People have gone through our department's through our one stop -- already in this last quarter about 300000. And about I would say after they go through training for two -- three month period 75%. Will find a job. That's a very good -- encouraging number I'm happy to hear about that. Here's another concern of people are talking about which you know very well which is productivity we -- the productivity number the other day. We saw average hourly earnings increased but the work week would mean stable. The question people are asking themselves is do we have a workforce now that he is more productive and yes more efficient and therefore. When you look at things like unit labor costs it's in -- That perhaps -- true wind things as much as we can. And therefore. Some point don't have no choice but to hire workers or have we just become a more productive country."

" Well I think they're there a couple of things happening but certainly. American productivity is way up we know that and there's new technology coming into play and we haven't really retooled that labor force that could be eligible for these new jobs it will be created. And as an example for example. And vice president. Was just in a Delaware and announcing the monies that are going to go into a GM plant it was close to hire. 2000 new auto workers to create a new hybrid vehicle. That in turn will help to generate. Obviously a new skill set and and -- new emphasis in a new workforce. If you look also in Nevada I was recently there. I sought out a whole emphasis placed on. Creating a new smart grid system that is still sorely needed to bring the cost of energy down it will create jobs I didn't 38 million was given there they project to create 200 jobs. But also in addition they'll be some offset other. Retailers. People that are involved in in accounting. In also. It's subsidiary industries will also be created. So this is happening also in the private sector so that and that's what is getting you hope is like tours the country and CDs. Businesses that are coming forward and very energized because now capital is being made available. People today are going to go back and they're going to look at the stimulus they're going to look at the decision to extend unemployment benefits and they're -- say this -- double edged -- What do we really doing at the end of the day. To create new jobs and it isn't about time that we put together a new job tax credit. We know the president has asked all of his cabinet members. To come up with ideas so that we can focus in on job creation. And we've been doing it now for the last couple of months and I know that this is something that is going to be on our minds a -- determine. To bring down that unemployment rate that is high. It's unacceptable but we want to create opportunities for people to be ready for these new jobs and these new industries that. Businesses are coming forward and saying yes we're going to make that investment. So I remain optimistic I know that this is a hard time remaining millions of Americans are out of work. But again I would encourage them. To get into education and training and to focus on that because. I will tell you the figures that I look at the people that are that are out the longest that are unemployed are the ones that don't have good training and education so this is an opportune time for people to take advantage of financial assistance that the government is making available to go to Community Colleges to get into an apprenticeship program. To go through our one stop -- That's offered by the Department of Labor and secretary couldn't watch -- go without asking this question we ask -- of a lot of our gas. What keeps you up at night what teens -- your most right now. The fact that we need to put. As many people back to work as possible and that's something that preoccupy. Many of us here and I know our president. Is also very very determined focus to make sure that we change these numbers and we are making a difference because where we work starting in January when we inherited this. I think the president has -- a good foundation to start to turn the corner and it's going to take some time but I do have a lot of faith in our American workers. Mine -- and secretary of -- thank you very much for taking the time at this point we appreciate. Thank you."