In a disappointing setback for middle class Americans and job creators, the U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the nation’s economy added only 39,000 jobs during November while the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent – the worst unemployment rate in seven months.

According to the New York Times, “November’s numbers were far less than the 150,000 jobs forecast. More than 15 million people remain out of work, and 6.3 million of them have been unemployed for six months or longer.”

“Today’s unemployment numbers are a troubling reminder that Senator Kent Conrad and his party leaders in Washington have misplaced their priorities fighting for a massively unpopular health care plan and a bloated stimulus that failed to create jobs while America’s debt and jobless rate continue to skyrocket,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Press Secretary Amber Marchand. “Instead of working to spur our nation’s economy, Senator Conrad toed the line for President Obama’s out-of-touch partisan agenda as hard-working Americans continue to pay the price.”