Gov. Pierluisi addresses unprecedented job growth in latest State Message

In addition to addressing other issues such as the economy, public assistance, health care, and crime, the governor, who supports statehood and the US Democratic Party, advocated for equality for Puerto Rico.

On Tuesday, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi offered his fourth State Situation Message since taking office in January 2021.

Pierluisi centered the message on the work his administration has done in recent years, where attention has been focused on the use of federal funds that were granted to the island after Hurricane María in 2017 and the earthquakes of 2020.

In addition to addressing other issues such as the economy, public assistance, health care, and crime, the governor, who supports statehood and the US Democratic Party, advocated for equality for Puerto Rico.

“It is only with Statehood that we can guarantee our next generations that we will have the support of the United States government without discrimination and without inequality,” Pierluisi said.

Here’s what Pierluisi said about these key topics that affect the island:

Employment

“Today we have 129,000 more jobs in Puerto Rico than in January 2021, an unprecedented increase of 13% in three years. There are more people working today than when our population had 500,000 more people. Our labor participation has risen by almost 5% and the unemployment rate, which was at 9% at the beginning of 2021, today is at 5.7%, the lowest number in our history.”

Health Care and Public Assistance

“Our economy is growing with the support of a federal administration that has put Puerto Rico among its priorities. But it is only with statehood that we will be able to ensure that this support is permanent and does not depend on a friendly administration versus another that is not… the well-being of our people is improving, but we still suffer discrimination in health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare; Supplemental Social Security; nutritional assistance for our boys and girls, our seniors and people with disabilities; In short, in all the rights and benefits that we deserve as American citizens.”

Crime

“Last year we ended up with fewer than 500 murders for the first time in 40 years, a 30% reduction from 2021.”

Infrastructure

“There was a record of 12 million passengers transiting through the San Juan International Airport.”

“Under our Smart Island program, we are making a historic investment of more than $900 million in infrastructure and digital equity.”