The U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs in September, but the nation's unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent for the third straight month. Although September's job growth was stronger than most economists were expecting, it is still not growing fast enough for the millions of Americans looking for work.
美国的就业人数在9月份增加了10万3千，但全国的失业率却连续三个月维持在9.1%。尽管9月份的就业增长比大多数经济学家预期的都强，可还是不能满足数百万苦苦找工作的美国人的需要。
In many U.S. cities, frustration over the scarcity of jobs is spilling out into the streets in the form of protests, like the "Jobs Not Cuts" rally in Washington.
在很多美国城市，缺乏工作的困扰正在引起一波又一波的街头抗议，就像首都华盛顿出现的这场“要工作不要裁员”的示威活动。
Many, including rapper Godfrey James, say lawmakers are not doing enough to help unemployed Americans.
很多人，包括戈弗雷·詹姆斯，都说国会议员在帮助失业的美国人方面做得不够。
"Cause it's another dark night when the U.S. is needing light," said James. "Tell me is it fair? We got workers rights in the air, and the Congress hasn't put one jobs bill there."
“这又是一个漆黑的夜晚，而美国正需要亮光。告诉我，这公平吗？我们工人的权利化为乌有，可是国会竟连一个就业法案都没通过。”
Experts say hiring is likely to remain weak for the remainder of the year as companies wait for the economy to improve.
专家认为，由于企业在等待经济改善，今年内雇佣形势可能持续疲弱。
But rally organizer Shannon Mcleish says corporations are sitting on piles of cash while the rest of America struggles to make ends meet.
但是抗议集会的组织者香农·麦克利什说，大公司坐拥大堆现钞，而普通美国人却在为生计发愁。
"Yes, jobless numbers, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, health issues, no health insurance, you can trace it all back to the greed and the misinformation that has been propagated through our media," said Mcleish.
“是的，失业数字、贫困、没有工作、无家可归、健康问题、无医疗保险，你可以把这些问题都归结于贪婪，以及媒体传播给我们的错误信息。”
In New York, where the "Occupy Wall Street" movement appears to be gaining momentum, activists say the richest one percent own most of the country's wealth.
在纽约，“占领华尔街”运动看起来愈演愈烈。活动人士说，占美国人口百分之一的最富裕阶层掌握着国家大部分财富。
"I feel like the middle class has been almost completely wiped out now. Now, you have got the bottom class and the top class," said one protester.
一位男士说：“我感觉中产阶级现在已经基本上消失了。现在只有底层和上层。”
All told, about 14 million Americans are unemployed, nearly 40 percent have been out of work for more than six months.
大约1400万美国人现在没有工作，其中将近40%失业已经超过六个月。
This single mother says finding a decent job is even harder for women and minorities.
这位单身母亲说，女性和少数族裔要找到一份体面的工作更加困难。
"It's pretty discouraging, there's, it's also difficult especially for women to find flexible part time work where they can also take care of their children, that's a whole other issue," she said.
她说：“很令人沮丧。女性要找份便于照顾孩子的灵活的工作尤其不容易。这整个又是另外一个问题。”
President Barack Obama, who is running for re-election next year, is pressuring Congress to pass a $450 billion job creation plan. Republicans, who see the economy as the president's weakness, have blocked many of his initiatives and are unlikely to approve the package of tax cuts and public spending.
准备明年竞选连任的奥巴马总统正在给国会施加压力，促其通过一项4500亿美元的创造就业计划。认为经济是奥巴马软肋的共和党人已经封杀了他的许多提案，因此不大可能批准他的减税和减少公共开支的计划。
But small business owner Dave Finnegan says Americans need to remind politicians who's really in charge.
不过，小业主费尼根说，美国人有必要提醒政客们谁才是国家的主人。
"This is how things get done," said Finnegan. "That building, the Capitol building is only a place where they vote on stuff, it's not a place where things originate. Things originate with people in the street. This is a democracy and it has to start here."
“事情就是这样。那栋大厦，那栋国会大厦，只是一个他们投票表决的地方，不是事物的源头。普通民众才是一切事物的根本。这就是民主，一切都要从这里开始。”
While better than expected job numbers last month have helped calm fears of a new recession, the nation's chronic high unemployment is expected to be a major issue in 2012. And as the election draws near, analysts say the weak economy is likely to fuel more rallies.
虽然9月份好于预期的就业数据减轻了人们对美国经济可能再次陷入衰退的担忧，但是预计美国的失业率居高不下将成为2012年的主要问题。随着总统大选日益临近，分析人士说，经济疲软可能会引发更多的抗议集会。 |