East San Francisco Bay Congressmen Jerry McNerney and George Miller pledged to work to put Americans back to work in the wake of Friday's grim U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

The report showed that 533,000 jobs were lost in November and the unemployment rate jumped to 6.7 percent, the highest number of job losses since 1974. Approximately 1.9 million jobs have been lost since January.

McNerney (D-Pleasanton) said:

"The announcement today that employers cut over half a million jobs last month is staggering. That's the largest one month drop in 34 years. That grim news comes on top of yesterday's statement that AT&T is laying off 12,000 employees.  Although there has not been a specific announcement about AT&T's San Ramon facilities, with half of the company's Bay Area employees located there, it's likely the impact will be felt locally. These job losses are more than just big numbers.  Each job loss represents a crisis for families and neighborhoods across our district and our country.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are losing their jobs. Unfortunately, as we're in the midst of the holiday season, the timing could not be worse. Too many people are now being hurt by the greatest economic crisis we have faced in a generation.  We have got to move forward quickly with economic recovery legislation to put people back to work.  We can invest in improving our aging roads and bridges, help states avoid deep cuts to services, and build renewable energy infrastructure and clean power capacity - putting people to work."

Miller (D-Martinez) said:

"Our first priority must be to approve an economic recovery plan that will make investments in energy independence, rebuild our neglected infrastructure, and continue to provide relief to families struggling to make ends meet. Economists of every stripe tell us that targeted investments in infrastructure improvements and the green economy will create millions of jobs in the short-term and encourage long-term economic growth.

"But, as our nation builds a more resilient economy, we must also ensure that all workers are able to share in a rebounding economy. Workers must be able to earn a fair wage, decent benefits and have the ability to enjoy a secure retirement. I look forward to working with the new Congress and the Obama administration to improve the economic security of American workers and strengthen middle-class families."