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A much anticipated unemployment report was released by the U.S. Labor Department showing the strength of the U.S. economy.

After weather has crippled much of the nation the past few months, many economists where looking to this report as a gauge of the first true sampling of the U.S. economy unaffected by the weather.

The unemployment report for March showed the economy created 192,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remaining steady at 6.7%.

Now you can find numerous positive aspects of this report and one can also have a negative view of this unemployment report.

First, The Labor Department revised upward job creation for the months of January and February, and now has the economy averaging around 175,000 jobs created per month.

Many can look at this report and highlight the fact the labor participation rate has remained at a generational low of 63%, the lowest it has been since 1978.  Two factors contribute to this as more individuals leave the workforce due to retirement, but many are leaving because they just gave up finding quality employment.

The average wage of those finding employment in this report is around $14.00 an hour, hardly enough to jump start a listless economy.

The administration reacted to this report with Jason Furman, the Chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisors commenting, “The economy continued to add jobs in March at a pace consistent with job growth over the past year. Additionally, the unemployment rate was steady while the labor force participation rate edged up. While today’s data indicates that the recovery is continuing to unfold, the President still believes further steps must be taken to strengthen growth and boost job creation.”  

He continued, “In this regard, the Senate’s decision yesterday to move forward with the consideration of a bill to reinstate extended unemployment insurance was an important step in the right direction. In addition to encouraging this and other action in Congress, such as raising the minimum wage and passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, the President will continue to act on his own executive authority wherever possible to expand economic opportunity for American families.”     

In a statement released by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), regarding today’s Labor Department unemployment report for March 2014,   “I’m glad more Americans have found work, but our economy still isn’t creating jobs for the American people at the rate they were promised.  Under the Republican jobs plan, the House has passed dozens of bills that would help fuel economic growth by expanding all types of energy production, protecting families and small business from ObamaCare, improving education and job training, and more.  Senate Democrats have no excuse for standing in the way of these common-sense jobs measures, many of which passed with bipartisan support, and I urge them to act immediately.”

Both parties will see what they want in this report and both parties will gauge a response and craft strategies which appeal more to the base of their party; especially  leading up to November’s mid-term election. 

The country is going to have to wait before any real action is taken to alleviate the lack of job creation in the country.  This report was adequate but we will not get a real idea of the strength of the U.S. economy until late in the summer when the full impact of Obamacare is felt.

The president highlighted the healthcare numbers of over 7 million who have signed up, but missing was who actually has paid their first premiums.

In the coming months healthcare providers will be calculating 2015 health care premiums and will know then its effect of the economy, and on small businesses right before the November mid-term elections.

It’s going to be a long hot summer!     

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