The U.S. economy added 157,000 jobs in January but the unemployment rate rose slightly to 7.9 percent, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department.
The new numbers also showed that more jobs were added to the economy in December and November than previously believed. The November revision says that the U.S. added 247,000 jobs, up from the 161,000 first reported and the U.S. added 196,000 in December, up from 155,000.
In a statement, the White House argued that the results show the need for Congressional action.
“It is critical that we pursue the policies needed to build an economy that works for the middle class as we continue to dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007,” the statement reads.
