Unemployment Rises To 9.2 Percent, Few Jobs Created

The unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent in June and only 18,000 news jobs were created, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department.

 In May, the unemployment rate was at 9.1 percent. The new numbers show that 14.1 million Americans are now jobless.

In a statement from the White House Rose Garden Friday afternoon, President Obama noted that the data wasn’t particularly surprising.

“Today’s job report confirms what most Americans already know: We still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do to give people the security and opportunity that they deserve,” Obama said.

Obama is scheduled to hold a series of interviews with regional media outlets do discuss steps the administration has taken to recover the economy and ongoing efforts to reduce the deficit.