Since taking office, President Biden has frequently boasted about the “job recovery” of the United States, even claiming this week that his administration’s efforts have produced “the most job creation in American history.”
However, several economists and fact-checkers dispute that Biden had a significant impact on the numbers.
Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the United States fell into a recession in March 2020, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Since then, as a consequence of the pandemic, limits imposed have continued to be removed — allowing Americans to return to work they already hold. For the White House, this “employment recovery” has been a favorite talking point and proof of success.
In March, Politifact labeled a similar Biden statement, in which he said the economy has “more jobs created in one year than ever before in the history of the United States of America,” as “half-true.” The fact check concluded that Biden was correct but went on to explain how President Biden’s remark was incomplete.
“As the country’s population has expanded, so has the number of employment opportunities. Using the annual percentage increase is a superior method for comparing changes across 80-plus years of data. However, 2021 posted strong results but did not establish an all-time record when compared to pre-pandemic levels, taking into account the timing as well as other variables external to a presidency determining outcome.”
According to a report from The American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research, Stephen Pociask and Brian Riedl, as well as other economists, weren’t nearly so kind. Both said that the employment recovery was only due to COVID-19 limitations being removed.
“COVID restrictions were removed. That’s it!” Riedl said.
“President Biden is claiming credit for jobs that were going to come back regardless of any presidential policy. He’s taking credit for the fact that the pandemic ended and people were recalled to work, which was going to happen anyway.”
