The following is a statement from Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, on the announced nomination of E.J. Antoni to serve as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The announced nomination of E.J. Antoni to replace Dr. Erika McEntarfer as the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) following her unprecedented removal will not make the labor market stronger. It does, however, exacerbate this administration’s deeply troubling pattern of injecting political ideology and unjustified claims into what should be objective and nonpartisan exercises. And yet another well-qualified woman is forced to pay the price.
“The BLS’s monthly jobs report provides an essential snapshot of how the US workforce—including women overall and women of color—is faring in multiple employment sectors. Presidential administrations, members of Congress, and state and local policymakers from across the political spectrum have long relied on this information to identify workforce gaps and inform policies that improve economic security for women and families.
“But this administration made egregious accusations without a shred of evidence that the numbers were rigged—a claim as disrespectful as it is false. Any unfounded attempt to cast doubt on or compromise the reliability and accessibility of the monthly jobs report to serve political purposes erodes public trust and prevents researchers and institutions like IWPR from tracking and responding to important economic trends. This deeply misguided approach will have significant repercussions that go far beyond how many jobs are gained or lost in a given month.
“This report should be informed by data, not politics. We urge the administration to recognize and respect this crucial distinction.”
