Pelosi: Jobs number is step forward for middle class

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Friday said the economy adding 431,000 jobs in May was "another step forward for our middle class." 

"This year, we have added an average of 200,000 jobs per month, a majority in the private sector, a stark contrast to the Bush administration record of losing an average of nearly 750,000 jobs per month in its last three months," she said in prepared remarks.

Today's 431,000 jobs figure is chiefly composed of temporary workers hired by the Census Bureau. Jobs created in the private sector totaled only 41,000, which was surprisingly low in the eyes of many analysts.   

Dr. Martin Regalia, chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the lack of private-sector jobs is a sign company leaders are apprehensive about hiring until they have a better handle on what legislative reforms will be coming out of Congress. 

"American businesses are ready to hire again but continue to be hamstrung by policies in Washington that create uncertainty," Regalia said. "From a healthcare law that's littered with burdensome taxes and regulations to potential new tax increases that are racing through Congress under the guise of 'jobs bills,' businesses want certainty in order to begin hiring. And Washington just isn't providing this right now."