so U. S. Labor Secretary marty Walsh is joining us right now. Mrs Secretary, we appreciate your time today. I want to start with the latest jobs report, the US added 235,000 jobs in august however, that is far less than the roughly one million jobs a month added in june and july, why is there such a dramatic discrepancy in the jobs numbers this summer? Well, I think there's, I think there's a couple things going on here. One is, if you look at this jobs report a positive side of it, we added 203,000 the private sector, which is a good number when you think about uh previous months. Uh we also saw a growth in manufacturing, which is another good number. Uh the area that we didn't see any growth at all was in hospitality and leisure and restaurants Uh in in the last three months, those who have been the biggest areas of gain that we've seen. So I think that the delta variant has definitely had an impact on this report as we think about moving forward. Uh and you know, maybe the end of the summer a little bit as well, but certainly it tells us we still have work to do here before we get fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. And that leads me right into this employers particularly in new Hampshire in that service and hospitality industries, they've really been struggling to find workers and they've been forced to cut their hours, Why are there so many unfilled jobs, I think, you know, to get that question all the time. And I think two of the real uh big obstacles are one uh, is the fear of covid 19. Uh, and people still concerned about uh contracting covid 19, uh, concerned about people who are refused to get vaccinated and working with them and maybe going out. Uh, that's one of the reasons. I think the second reason I would say and maybe not in disorder is the lack of childcare. Many parents have no place for their kids to go. Uh, particularly single mothers in the daytime. Where can they go when they go to work? Uh, school started last week. I think that the month of the month of september we could see some good growth here because parents will have school open for the kids to go to? Uh, the one concern that we all have is what, what's the, what's going to happen with the variant? Where will we be with the delta variant? Where we be with with the numbers and hopefully we can have the trend turned down. I know in new Hampshire and massachusetts, the delta variant wasn't, it didn't have as big of an impact to say, you know, florida and other states, but still, uh, there's a concern out there, even still a lot of people, they need to make a living. I mean, are these people who just aren't planning to return to the economy or do you expect them to come back? I think a lot of people are gonna come back. I'm not sure like how some people are surviving. I think, you know, I don't know if people were moving in with their parents or or doubling up with families, but certainly, uh, you know, the we need to get americans back to work here for our economy to continue to move forward. We've added 4,000,004 and a half million jobs since President biden has taken office. Uh, we've averaged 750,000 jobs the last three months. So we have seen good growth and you know, the thing that we're dealing with is a pandemic. There's no playbook. We don't, you know, this is all day by day new to us as far as it's not, it's not a typical recession and it's it's it's, you know, we have to continue to look and see how do we, we move our economy forward there there is some investments that the president wants to make and the cares economy, there's some investments the president wants to make uh, in in the in the in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Both Senator Shaheen and Hassan supported that bill, which is a good bill. It's that bill that's going to make major investment in roads and bridges and broadband access for rural America and you know, clean drinking water. We still have too many people in this country drink outlet pipe. So there's a good investment bill heading heading towards the Senate right towards the Congress right now. So we do have to be focused on on how do we continue to build our economy? We've seen the concerns that the delta variant is causing across the country are their concerns that the delta variants or even other variants could cause further surges and derail the economic recovery. Yeah, there's no question about it. I think that uh, I wouldn't necessarily call today's job numbers of derailment, but certainly I think it was very impactful the delta variant to those to the bottom line of today's jobs report. Uh, so, you know, the president has been very clear on, on insisting and pushing people to be vaccinated. We're seeing in these areas where we have high vaccine rates. Uh, less number cases of delta very and less cases of coronavirus and the folks that are getting the virus that have been vaccinated. Uh, the illness of that is far less severe than people who are not vaccinated. There's a critical shortage, a shortage of nurses in new Hampshire and many other states. What is the administration's plan to help get more nurses and other health care workers into the pipeline? I was in Arizona two weeks ago with the mayor of phoenix and I met with three ceo executives from the health care industry there and they were talking about this exact issue of lack of nurses or shortage of nurses and and quite honestly over the next 10 years, that shortage is going to be greater. Um I had a meeting today with my team here at the Department of Labor to talk about the infrastructure bill, the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the cares economy infrastructure bill about the ability for us to create a training program to work with hospitals and nursing schools around the country to really close that gap if we don't make a major investment in nursing in this country over the course of the next year and really prepare for the next 5 to 10 years. Uh This will be a health care crisis uh and also in the mental health space, making sure that we're creating opportunities for counselor. So uh you know, we're gonna be talking to health and human services and we're gonna be talking across cabinet through education as well to see how we, how we create better pathways for nursing, mental health counselors and and like here in the federal government and finally, Mr Secretary as we Mark Labour Day weekend, what is the biden administration predicting this fall in weekend? And what is the job outlook for the upcoming seasons? Well, I think, I think, you know, if you look at, if you look at the last three months, the average job gain is 750,000. You know, today's number obviously is not not what was projected, but neither was last month, last month was was under projected, but certainly President Biden's plan is to continue to move forward uh, steady and continue to see good growth in our economy. The economy is strong in America. We need to continue to add to that strength. Uh, and and and the biden administration quite honestly, President biden and myself, we just want to make sure that as we go into Labor Day understand that America strong. Uh, the president has a plan to build back better. Uh, the president has a plan to win the future, which means that wants to get more manufacturing going on. He wants us to make sure that that we continue to be the world leader when it comes to opportunities for people to to be able to get jobs and whether it's a tech world or the manufacturing world or what have you, uh, he wants to continue to move forward. And I just personally want to just wish everyone uh in new Hampshire a very and everyone watching a very happy Labor Day. I want to do a special thank you to the essential worker, The first responder, the nurses, the doctors in the hospital staff. These folks for the last 19 months have been working uh, in some case around the clock, making sure that we're safe. We're healthy. We stay alive and also keep us Fed. Uh, so if you see a first responders or see a hospital worker or essential worker, make sure you just say thank you to them because they're, they're, they're uh, you know, downtown. everything they can to make sure that we continue to move forward. On that note, Mr. Secretary have a nice holiday weekend and thank you very much for your time. We appreciate it. Thank you Happy Labor Day you as well.

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh opens up about his sobriety as the nation faces addiction crisis

Updated: 1:25 PM EDT Oct 3, 2021

Marty Walsh chose to go to an alcohol detox program in 1995. But even after committing to it, he was questioning his decision."I didn't want to go to detox. ... When I got there, I thought to myself: 'What am I doing here?' " the secretary of labor said in an interview with CNN during National Recovery Month, which has taken on an extra level of significance as COVID-19 fuels concerns over a rise in addiction in America.The interview comes as the Biden administration looks toward tackling addiction issues throughout the U.S., which seem to have hit a boiling point amid the coronavirus pandemic. Preliminary numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention record more than 93,000 U.S. overdose deaths last year, and alcohol consumption among American adults seems to have increased. Walsh entered the program in 1995, years before he landed in the political world. He said his relationship with alcohol at the time felt like a "love affair," such was the power of the addiction. But "the fun started to go away and then blackouts started to happen.""Then problems happen," Walsh said.During the pandemic, there's been more stress spurred by job insecurity, job risks, illness and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of loved ones. There's been less capacity at addiction treatment facilities. And most prevalent, Walsh argued, is that people have felt more isolated.The spread of the coronavirus "hasn't challenged my sobriety, but I think the pandemic has forced a lot of people to kind of get away from the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous and get away from the traditional supports they have out there," Walsh said. "And even I got away from meetings. I was on Zoom, but I got away from meetings."Overdose deaths are at a record high. And American adults' alcohol consumption appears to have increased during the pandemic, with nearly 1 in 4 adults reporting drinking more to cope with their stress in one American Psychological Association poll."You feel it," Walsh added. "I didn't want to drink over it. But you just feel it inside of you -- it's like you're edgy or you might not be feeling yourself. You're not dealing with situations and troubles that happen that are out there."Ultimately, Walsh said, he largely decided to commit to the program more than 20 years ago to address how his relationship with alcohol was impacting his mental health."I felt like I was just sad, depressed ... maybe not clinically defined depressed, but I was depressed and I had this pit in my stomach," Walsh said. "And I wanted to get rid of that. I haven't had that pit in my stomach in over 20 years." Breaking the stigmaWalsh's recovery has become a central part of his political identity.Two years after going to detox, he became a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. While in the statehouse, he said, he decided to speak out about his recovery after hearing his mentor Kevin Fitzgerald, a former Massachusetts state lawmaker, speak openly about his own recovery.Video above: Here are some warning signs of alcoholismWhen Walsh ascended the rungs of politics and became mayor of Boston, he remained outspoken about his recovery journey, notably opening his 2016 speech at the Democratic National Convention by saying, "My name is Marty Walsh and I'm an alcoholic.""I think it's important to kind of break that stigma and let people know that it's OK to admit that you're powerless over alcohol, that you're powerless over drugs and you can get help," Walsh said.While Walsh served as Boston's mayor, the city launched a number of initiatives aimed at helping individuals facing addiction, including the Office of Recovery Services. Boston also started a 24-hour recovery hotline and mandated that every public safety vehicle in the city be equipped with naloxone -- a drug that can bring some people back from opioid overdoses.Since becoming labor secretary, Walsh says he's had conversations with different federal agencies about recovery-related programs modeled after his work as mayor.He also underscored the importance of having the enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 under the Labor Department's jurisdiction. Under the Biden administration, the federal government has shown renewed interest in enforcing the law, which requires that insurance coverage for mental health disorders, including treatment for substance use disorders, be no more restrictive than coverage for medical benefits."Obviously President Biden is focused on this as well. I've had some good conversations with President Biden about recovery and the need for more programming," Walsh added.But he cautioned that "we can have all the programs in the world but if people aren't willing to go into them, that's a problem.""When somebody needs a bed, we need to have a bed for anyone who wants one," Walsh said.Pandemic creates an addiction nightmareThe conditions spurred by the pandemic have seemingly created a perfect storm for addiction and relapse, having led to isolation, stress and labor shortages among some sectors of the economy.The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said in its year-one policy priorities that while there are some protections for individuals with histories of substance use disorder under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, "employers are often reluctant to hire a person with a history of substance use disorder," arguing that the federal government should find ways to "remove barriers to employment and create employment programs for people in recovery from addiction."Asked about the role the federal government plays in reducing hiring stigma, Walsh said, "I think the federal government can tell the story about recovery and about giving people second chances and maybe a third chance.""You're talking to the labor secretary of the United States of America, who is a recovering alcoholic. Somebody gave me a second chance," he added.If you or someone you know needs help tackling a drug or alcohol addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at 1-800-662-4357.

Marty Walsh chose to go to an alcohol detox program in 1995. But even after committing to it, he was questioning his decision.

"I didn't want to go to detox. ... When I got there, I thought to myself: 'What am I doing here?' " the secretary of labor said in an interview with CNN during National Recovery Month, which has taken on an extra level of significance as COVID-19 fuels concerns over a rise in addiction in America.

The interview comes as the Biden administration looks toward tackling addiction issues throughout the U.S., which seem to have hit a boiling point amid the coronavirus pandemic. Preliminary numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention record more than 93,000 U.S. overdose deaths last year, and alcohol consumption among American adults seems to have increased.

Walsh entered the program in 1995, years before he landed in the political world. He said his relationship with alcohol at the time felt like a "love affair," such was the power of the addiction. But "the fun started to go away and then blackouts started to happen."

"Then problems happen," Walsh said.

During the pandemic, there's been more stress spurred by job insecurity, job risks, illness and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of loved ones. There's been less capacity at addiction treatment facilities. And most prevalent, Walsh argued, is that people have felt more isolated.

The spread of the coronavirus "hasn't challenged my sobriety, but I think the pandemic has forced a lot of people to kind of get away from the traditional Alcoholics Anonymous and get away from the traditional supports they have out there," Walsh said. "And even I got away from meetings. I was on Zoom, but I got away from meetings."

Overdose deaths are at a record high. And American adults' alcohol consumption appears to have increased during the pandemic, with nearly 1 in 4 adults reporting drinking more to cope with their stress in one American Psychological Association poll.

"You feel it," Walsh added. "I didn't want to drink over it. But you just feel it inside of you -- it's like you're edgy or you might not be feeling yourself. You're not dealing with situations and troubles that happen that are out there."

Ultimately, Walsh said, he largely decided to commit to the program more than 20 years ago to address how his relationship with alcohol was impacting his mental health.

"I felt like I was just sad, depressed ... maybe not clinically defined depressed, but I was depressed and I had this pit in my stomach," Walsh said. "And I wanted to get rid of that. I haven't had that pit in my stomach in over 20 years."

Breaking the stigma

Walsh's recovery has become a central part of his political identity.

Two years after going to detox, he became a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. While in the statehouse, he said, he decided to speak out about his recovery after hearing his mentor Kevin Fitzgerald, a former Massachusetts state lawmaker, speak openly about his own recovery.

Video above: Here are some warning signs of alcoholism

When Walsh ascended the rungs of politics and became mayor of Boston, he remained outspoken about his recovery journey, notably opening his 2016 speech at the Democratic National Convention by saying, "My name is Marty Walsh and I'm an alcoholic."

"I think it's important to kind of break that stigma and let people know that it's OK to admit that you're powerless over alcohol, that you're powerless over drugs and you can get help," Walsh said.

While Walsh served as Boston's mayor, the city launched a number of initiatives aimed at helping individuals facing addiction, including the Office of Recovery Services. Boston also started a 24-hour recovery hotline and mandated that every public safety vehicle in the city be equipped with naloxone -- a drug that can bring some people back from opioid overdoses.

Since becoming labor secretary, Walsh says he's had conversations with different federal agencies about recovery-related programs modeled after his work as mayor.

He also underscored the importance of having the enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 under the Labor Department's jurisdiction. Under the Biden administration, the federal government has shown renewed interest in enforcing the law, which requires that insurance coverage for mental health disorders, including treatment for substance use disorders, be no more restrictive than coverage for medical benefits.

"Obviously President Biden is focused on this as well. I've had some good conversations with President Biden about recovery and the need for more programming," Walsh added.

But he cautioned that "we can have all the programs in the world but if people aren't willing to go into them, that's a problem."

"When somebody needs a bed, we need to have a bed for anyone who wants one," Walsh said.

Pandemic creates an addiction nightmare

The conditions spurred by the pandemic have seemingly created a perfect storm for addiction and relapse, having led to isolation, stress and labor shortages among some sectors of the economy.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said in its year-one policy priorities that while there are some protections for individuals with histories of substance use disorder under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, "employers are often reluctant to hire a person with a history of substance use disorder," arguing that the federal government should find ways to "remove barriers to employment and create employment programs for people in recovery from addiction."

Asked about the role the federal government plays in reducing hiring stigma, Walsh said, "I think the federal government can tell the story about recovery and about giving people second chances and maybe a third chance."

"You're talking to the labor secretary of the United States of America, who is a recovering alcoholic. Somebody gave me a second chance," he added.

If you or someone you know needs help tackling a drug or alcohol addiction, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hotline at 1-800-662-4357.