President Barack Obama, addressed some 130 attendees participating in the job forum earlier this afternoon, issuing a call to the group to come up with fresh perspectives and new ideas on how jobs might be created in the U.S. economy.
Noting that growth in jobs will largely come from the private sector, and according to Obama, mindful of extraordinary skepticism on the part of some that the forum would achieve results, he stated that he is prepared “to take every responsible step to job creation” in America.
Addressing a group that included small business owners, experts from the green jobs sector, business leaders, academics, Mayors and representatives from nonprofit organizations, Obama sought to put the forum in context by reminding that, some one in 10 Americans is out of work with millions more working fewer hours than they would like. Further, he opined that the loss of jobs had devasted entire communities, while undermining the dignity of so many which comes from having a job.
The President stressed that there has been a “significant turnaround” in the economy, given what his Administration had inherited and the measures that had been adopted since, to stabilize the financial system, the first order of business. In his view, stabilization of the financial system was essential in order to avert a collapse of the entire financial system.
While cognizant that jobs would lag economic growth, the President said that he is open to any demonstrably good ideas that would help to spur job creation more quickly. He indicated too, that he would be speaking in more detail on this issue next week.
Underscoring that the U.S. still has some of the most productive workers in the world, best universities, science and technology and great entrepreneurial spirit, the President cautioned, that the work to be undertaken must be approached with a sense of seriousness, if America is to hold its place in the 21st Century, as it had in the previous one.
