IDP Statement on Jobs Report for May 2016

INDIANAPOLIS – Drew Anderson, communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party, released the following statement in light of today’s state jobs report for the month of May.

“Another month, another time where Hoosiers hear about job creation but don’t see the reality in their pocketbooks. The fact is, Hoosiers are well aware that Indiana’s economy is lagging behind the national average while their income strength has dropped to 38th in the nation. Mike Pence is essentially telling Hoosiers ‘a job is a job’ and they need to accept the positions that make them work more for less. Workers are fed up and tired, need a raise, and cannot wait to vote out Mike Pence and his out-of-touch ideology this November.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: INDIANA IS FALLING BEHIND THE REST OF THE NATION

Overall State Economy

• Indiana’s economy had a sluggish growth at 1.7% real GDP, below the national average of 2.4% GDP. – [Route Fifty, 6.14.16]
• Indiana economic growth lags behind neighboring states Illinois and Ohio. – [Bureau of Economic Analysis, 6.14.16]
• Indiana ranks 38^th in per capita income, down from 34th in 2004. – [NWI Times, 03.26.16]
• Median Incomes: Wages have dropped from $53,500 in 2000 to $46,900 in 2013. – [U.S. Census]
• Hoosiers make 86 cents for every one American dollar earned. – [Indianapolis Star, 6.1.15]
• Indiana ranks 46^th in quality of life, 42^nd in workforce. – [CNBC]
• About two thirds of minimum wage workers in Indiana are women. – [Forbes, 7, 2015]
• Hoosier women make 75 cents for every dollar a man makes. – [AAUW, 2015]
• African American households earn on average $21,000 less than white households. – [Indianapolis Star, 4.11.15]
• Hispanic households make $15,000 less than white households. – [Indianapolis Star, 4.11.15]

Mike Pence’s RFRA

• Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in a closed door ceremony [FOX 59, 3.26.15], throwing Indiana into a $250 million economic panic. – [The Advocate, 7.10.15]

Pence Repeals Common Construction Wage Law

• Mike Pence and Statehouse Republicans repealed the common construction wage laws, allowing union worker wages to go down and the expanding wage gap continues to grow in our state. – [NWI Times, 5.6.15]

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