Huckabee blames Dems for “fewer private sector jobs” after BLS reported largest gain in nearly 3 years

While criticizing congressional Democrats for touting March's improved employment figures, Fox News' Mike Huckabee claimed that “there are fewer private sector jobs because of their policies, their regulations.” But the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that private employers added 123,000 jobs in March, which is the biggest gain in nearly three years.

Huckabee criticizes Dems for “fewer private sector jobs”

Huckabee: "[T]here are fewer and fewer private sector jobs" due to Democrats' policies. During an appearance on the April 2 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto, Huckabee discussed the March unemployment report and stated:

HUCKABEE: Well, it's interesting when they're touting how many jobs there are when many of these jobs are government, and many others are temporary. It's a little bit disingenuous on the part of the leadership in the Congress to boast about the fact more and more people are working for the government because there are fewer and fewer private sector jobs because their policies, their regulations, and their tax policy, is scaring the daylights out of the people who really create long term jobs, people who run small businesses. [Your World with Neil Cavuto, 04/02/10]

BLS reports private employers added most jobs in nearly 3 years

BLS: Private employers added 123,000 jobs in March. In the March monthly employment survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that total nonfarm payroll increased by 162,000 employees in March; private employers added 123,000 employees in March, the largest one-month gain since May 2007.

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics' news release on the March jobs report:

AP: “Private employers added 123,000 jobs, the most since May 2007.” An April 2 Associated Press article reported, “The Labor Department said employers added 162,000 jobs in March, the most since the recession began but below analysts' expectations of 190,000.” The AP article further reported:

Private employers added 123,000 jobs, the most since May 2007.

“It's just the beginning of a rise in private hiring that will help sustain the recovery,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group. “They're not big numbers, but they're welcome numbers.”