Private sector in 2011 added most jobs since 2005

Today’s jobs report shows that the economy ended the year on a relative strong note, with the private sector adding 212,000 jobs lats month.

And the Washington Monthly’s Steve Benen notes that “the U.S. private sector has now added 1.89 million jobs in 2011, well ahead of last year’s private-sector total of 1.2 million, and the best year for businesses since 2005.”

The chart above shows monthly private sector job losses or gains under the Bush (red) and Obama administrations (blue). Clearly things have gotten much better since President Obama took office.

We keep hearing the country is going in the "wrong direction." Since jobs are steadily being created, does that mean the critics would rather see more jobs LOST?
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