Labor Sec’y Solis recognizes joblessness too high, says she sees ’stabilization occurring’

Labor Sec’y Solis concedes job situation not good

WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says the Obama administration recognizes that too many people are out of work, saying government officials are working hard to ease unemployment.

Appearing on NBC’s “Today” show Monday as she prepared to join President Barack Obama at a Labor Day picnic in Ohio, Solis said she sees “stabilization occurring” in the economy.

She noted that job losses have tapered off in recent months, while also acknowledging that the national unemployment rate likely will hit double-digit levels later this year. The jobless rate in August was 9.7 percent. Hollis said the economy is “not somewhere where we need it to be right now.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is tapping a member of his auto industry task force to advise him on manufacturing.

Obama chose a Labor Day union picnic as the backdrop to announce his selection of Ron Bloom as senior counselor for manufacturing policy. Bloom planned to travel to Cincinnati with Obama for an afternoon announcement at the AFL-CIO event.

Bloom was senior adviser to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner as part of the auto industry task force since February. Bloom, a Harvard Business School graduate, previously advised the United Steelworkers union and worked as an investment banker.

Bloom will work with the National Economic Council to lead policy development and planning for Obama’s work to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, the White House said.

Obama’s speech to union members was the first of at least three speeches this week.

Obama’s remarks were expected to touch on health care in advance of a Wednesday evening address to Congress on his proposed overhaul. On Tuesday, Obama will speak to American children as they begin the school year.

The AFL-CIO Labor Day picnic normally draws up to 20,000 people, union spokesman Eddie Vale said. AFL-CIO president John Sweeney and secretary-treasurer Richard Trumka were expected to welcome Obama to the gathering.

On the Net:

AFL-CIO: www.aflcio.org/