Cantor says parties need to come together to fix the job market

House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said on Tuesday that the inability to enact job-creating legislation is directly affecting the country’s ability to recover economically, and prevents middle class families from finding jobs.

Cantor said the House has tried to pass legislation that would empower small business owners, job seekers and employees, but it has been met with opposition in the Senate.

“It’s time for Republicans and Democrats to work together or we will continue to see modest growth, part-time jobs and folks simply giving up on our economy and leaving the workforce,” Cantor said. “We cannot let that happen. It’s time to restore trust in our government, and faith in our economy.”

Cantor made his statement in response to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report that found the unemployment rate dropped to 7.2 percent and 148,000 jobs were created in the month of September. The jobs were created in construction, wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing.

The bureau reported that the number of long-term unemployed, meaning job-less for 27 weeks or more, changed very little at 4.1 million. They make up 36.9 percent of the unemployment number.

Cantor was elected to the House of Representatives in 2001 and has served as the majority leader in the 112th and 113th sessions of Congress.