US President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated Julie Su to lead the US labour department. If confirmed, she will become the first Asian American to serve in the cabinet at the secretary level in the Biden administration.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated Julie Su to lead the US labour department. If confirmed, she will become the first Asian American to serve in the cabinet at the secretary level in the Biden administration. Announcing the nomination, Biden called Su 'the American dream', adding that she could help the Americans as the head of the labour department. “Julie is the American dream. I think even more importantly, she’s committed to making sure that dream is within reach of every American, “Julie is a tested and experienced leader, who will continue to build a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive economy that provides Americans a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead,”. Su is a civil rights lawyer and has previously led California's labour department. She was the focal point of negotiations when labour and freight rail companies were embroiled in a logjam last year, which could have resulted in crippling strikes. Biden reflected on the same and said, "She helped avert a national rail shutdown, improved access to good jobs free from discrimination through my Good Jobs Initiative, and is ensuring that the jobs we create in critical sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, broadband and healthcare are good-paying, stable and accessible jobs for all.” Read more: US House approves bill to avert rail strike that could cost economy $2bn per day Talking about her nomination, Su recalled her mother who came to America as an immigrant. “Sixty years ago, my mom came to the United States on a cargo ship because she couldn’t afford a passenger ticket," said Su. “Recently, she got a call from the president of the United States telling her that her daughter was going to be nominated to be US labour secretary.” 52-year-old Su is currently employed as the deputy labour secretary. Though many experts believe that she was set to take the keys of the department after Biden won the White House, it was Marty Walsh who was given the responsibility. WATCH | Republicans win the U.S. House as they turn at least five Democratic seats × Su already has the support of the Senate where Democrats are in majority. However, her main battle will be in the House of Representatives where the Republicans consider her work overseeing the department 'troubling' and 'anti-worker'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'The American dream': Biden nominates Julie Su to serve as secretary of labour

US job creation accelerated in January, as labor markets continued to absorb workers at a robust pace, unemployment clung to a record low and wages moved higher, the government reported Friday.

The world&#39;s largest economy added 200,000 net new positions in the month, more than expected, driven by gains in construction, retail, restaurants and health care, the Labour Department reported.

The result beat forecasts, which predicted an increase of 180,000, and helped offset December&#39;s disappointing result.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent for the fourth month in a row.

Hourly wages continued to rise for the month as labour markets remained tight -- with wages posting their largest 12-month increase in more than nine years. &nbsp;

That will strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to raise the benchmark interest rate in March, as it is widely expected to do.

Hourly wages rose 0.3 percent from the prior month to $26.74, putting worker pay up 2.9 percent compared to January of last year, the largest 12-month gain since June 2009.

Over the same period, the consumer price index gained 2.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, but rising wages would be expected to put more pressure on prices.

The solid job gains were sure to be a relief for an embattled White House, as President Donald Trump has taken credit for the extended run of good economic news amid political turmoil.

Hiring by speciality trade contractors drove job creation in the construction sector, which added 36,000 new positions, while restaurants and bars added 31,000 new jobs.

The ranks of health care workers swelled for the month as well, adding 21,000 new positions.

Revisions to November and December subtracted a net 24,000 positions, bringing average job creation over the last three months of the year to 192,000, beating the 2017 monthly average of 181,000.

With the 4.1 percent unemployment rate, a 17-year-low, the ranks of the long-term unemployed -- those looking for work for 27 weeks or longer -- continued to drop, falling six percent to 1.4 million.

However, the unemployment rate for African-Americans, which Trump hailed this week in his State of the Union address, rose nine-tenths of a percentage point to 7.7 percent, just below the 7.8 percent in January last year.

Trump took office a year ago, pledging to create 25 million new jobs over a decade or just over 200,000 per month.

However, Labor Department figures released Friday show the economy added 2.17 million jobs in 2017, fewer than 2016 when there were 2.34 million new jobs.

The world's largest economy added 200,000 net new positions in the month, more than expected, driven by gains in construction, retail, restaurants and health care, the Labour Department reported

US job creation accelerated in January, as labor markets continued to absorb workers at a robust pace, unemployment clung to a record low and wages moved higher, the government reported Friday. The world's largest economy added 200,000 net new positions in the month, more than expected, driven by gains in construction, retail, restaurants and health care, the Labour Department reported. The result beat forecasts, which predicted an increase of 180,000, and helped offset December's disappointing result. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent for the fourth month in a row. Hourly wages continued to rise for the month as labour markets remained tight -- with wages posting their largest 12-month increase in more than nine years. That will strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to raise the benchmark interest rate in March, as it is widely expected to do. Hourly wages rose 0.3 percent from the prior month to $26.74, putting worker pay up 2.9 percent compared to January of last year, the largest 12-month gain since June 2009. Over the same period, the consumer price index gained 2.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, but rising wages would be expected to put more pressure on prices. The solid job gains were sure to be a relief for an embattled White House, as President Donald Trump has taken credit for the extended run of good economic news amid political turmoil. Hiring by speciality trade contractors drove job creation in the construction sector, which added 36,000 new positions, while restaurants and bars added 31,000 new jobs. The ranks of health care workers swelled for the month as well, adding 21,000 new positions. Revisions to November and December subtracted a net 24,000 positions, bringing average job creation over the last three months of the year to 192,000, beating the 2017 monthly average of 181,000. With the 4.1 percent unemployment rate, a 17-year-low, the ranks of the long-term unemployed -- those looking for work for 27 weeks or longer -- continued to drop, falling six percent to 1.4 million. However, the unemployment rate for African-Americans, which Trump hailed this week in his State of the Union address, rose nine-tenths of a percentage point to 7.7 percent, just below the 7.8 percent in January last year. Trump took office a year ago, pledging to create 25 million new jobs over a decade or just over 200,000 per month. However, Labor Department figures released Friday show the economy added 2.17 million jobs in 2017, fewer than 2016 when there were 2.34 million new jobs.

US adds 200,000 new jobs in January

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