September 20, 2009
Posted: September 20th, 2009 09:00 AM ET

From


WASHINGTON (CNN) - Even as some economic indicators - and the nation's top banker - suggest that the struggling economy may be turning around, President Obama again predicted the country will not see large-scale job growth until next year.

"[T]his is something that I ask every single one of my economic advisers every single day," Obama said when asked about jobs during an interview that airs Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. "Because I know that ultimately the measure of an economy is, is it producing jobs that help people support families, send their kids to college? That's the single most important thing we can do."

While the president said there was evidence the financial markets were beginning to function properly again and that the manufacturing sector is beginning to pick up, he refused to say definitively that the recession which began last year was over.

And Obama even suggested that the national unemployment rate, which is hovering at just under 10 percent, could climb higher in the near future.

"I want to be clear, that probably the jobs picture is not going to improve considerably - and it could even get a little bit worse - over the next couple of months," the president told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King, "And we're probably not going to start seeing enough job creation to deal with the - a rising population until some time next year."

Obama added that he thought the economy would be creating jobs throughout the end of 2009 - but not enough to keep pace with population growth and to make up for steep losses in employment that occurred earlier this year.

"I think we'll be adding jobs, but you need 150,000 additional jobs each month just to keep pace with a growing population. So if we're only adding 50,000 jobs, that's a great reversal from losing 700,000 jobs [a month] early this year - but, you know, it means that we've still got a ways to go."

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Filed under: Economy • President Obama • State of the Union


richard   September 20th, 2009 4:29 pm ET

Obama is not a liar just a loser one term buddy that's all your going to get then maybe you can make money giving speeches but na if your reading it off a telepromter so can we all so you will be with the 10 % jobless serves you right

m jeff   September 20th, 2009 1:46 pm ET

Stop the greedy CEOs that are exploiting poor countries for their slave labor. Put tariffs back on all imports, and end free trade, and start fair trade.

Mike in MN   September 20th, 2009 1:42 pm ET

Once the economy really starts to grow inflation is sure to take off because of the massive deficits. This could be a serious strain on the economy. If cap and trade were thrown on top of that the economy could buckle. All this could push us into a double dip recession before jobs every have a chance to catch up. So far Obama has ignored the defictis and wants cap and trade passed.

Farrell in Houston   September 20th, 2009 1:19 pm ET

The problems with a lot of jobless people is they want the jobs back they had which aren't coming back and a high school diploma or less doesn't qualify them in a competitive job market with those who have degrees. If there are those who don't see why Obama often stress education, now is the time to prepare yourself for the 21st century.

Matt   September 20th, 2009 1:15 pm ET

I hope the economy does have a robust recovery right before the 2010 elections, and that it ends up leaving even more Republicans out of power. If Republicans had their way, we would be in the middle of the sequel to the Great Depression right now. Where are your solutions, Republicans? Oh, that's right, you don't have any.

Keep complaining, party of whiners! WAAHHHH!!!!

Enough   September 20th, 2009 12:59 pm ET

Obamas presidency is the biggest job killer of all time! He has ZERO business sense, experience or knowledge. How does he think all these jobs will be "created" with his job killing policies? Obviously he is clueless, he promised unemployment would NOT go over 8% if his pork filled stimulus was passed..............Oops, it's over 12% in California. Community organizers do NOT understand businesses. Obama thinks Union takeovers are the solution.................what an idiot!

Too Much Government   September 20th, 2009 12:31 pm ET

Be sure to deduct the number of jobs that will be outsourced in 2010, at least 15 thousand positions in the Phoeix area alone. You promised us you would eliminate outsourcing.. Do I dare call you a liar?

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 12:25 pm ET

Dan WA-

It takes a genius like you to call our president a 'radical communist' and a 'moron.' Lighten up, and you just may get your job. In the meantime, continue to collect unemployment, as I believe President Obama extended those benefits for you.

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 12:21 pm ET

Keith in Austin-

Thanks for the invite to the great state of Texas. Since I have to continue to work to make up for all my retirement money that I lost in the Bush years, it may take a while to get some more time off. But, rest assured, when I get to Texas, I will let you know.

Dan, WA   September 20th, 2009 12:17 pm ET

I am surprised that President is saying that jobs will be created after 2010. He knows that elections are coming up in Nov '10 so he wants to say it upfront that we will get jobs in 2010 or later. What a joke. You are our president and we are jobless now so we need the job now. You are a radical communist. Your economic/stimulus policy does not serve our purpose. You are borrowing money which we do not have and our children and grand-children will have to pay for it. You are a moron. I hope American voters will throw them (Democrats) from power for-ever. We do not need the kind of change we are getting now. We need real change by throwing Barack and his gang out of office.

Keith in Austin   September 20th, 2009 12:05 pm ET

Victom: you're such an obvious loser! Get off the Government welfare roll, start working and pay some taxes! Your warped opinion will then change!

By the way, let us know who you are the next time you visit Texas! You obviously haven't met many of us personally even though you trash our great State!

Fed up Monority   September 20th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

Its geting harder and harder to read the right wingnuts comments...I can't believe they have such ignorant people in the US.......Their lack of knowledge on any subject, amazes me. Its the same people all the time.......President Obama needs to set up a program for the......severely chalanged priviledge folks.......they never seem to have a clue about what goes on outside their little world.......so they make accusations and assumption.........or they repeat what they have heard...which makes them sound egnorant and stupid.

Denna   September 20th, 2009 11:28 am ET

Willy Brown a.k.a Odumber. . shut up! Job creation is going to take longer because businesses have found a way to do with fewer people. Why in the world would they hire more if they can do with less? I think as business picks up in America we will see more people being hired. This mess did not happen as of January 2009 – it started a year ago and no one did a darned thing about it. Now all of a sudden President Obama is supposed to wave a magic wand and make it better. Please be mature people.

kelly   September 20th, 2009 11:22 am ET

The mess the economy is in has nothing to do with Obama. He inherited this economy and a system that was full of greed and corruption. He didn't cause the problems and yet gets blamed for not fixing everything that the republicans broke. And they broke everything, including our trust and respect around the world. With great power comes great responsibility. I respect Obama for even trying. How ironic the right, who owned the congress for eight years, and got us into this quagmire, are the same one's preventing, or trying to prevent, Obama from fixing things. Don't believe the hype people. Most Americans want health care reform and realize we are running out of time. We are the people who voted Obama in, overwhelmingly. What are the Republicans doing now? Are they taking responsibility? No! They are busy however, scaring people, name calling, and conducting racially motivated events that promote ignorance and hate!

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:21 am ET

What ever happened to those "Weapons of Mass Destruction" we were promised by the previous president?

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:12 am ET

What do Libertarians propose to replace the military, post offices, public universities, police and fire departments, after they eliminate these social programs?

Robert   September 20th, 2009 11:11 am ET

Well of course the large job creation isn't realized in the initial months of a recovery. Everyone knows that... Well, except those who carry on about the stimulus not working as quickly as they'd like it to...

Obama is not a liar just because the situation was worse than he or anyone could have known. If we have job growth by the end of 2009 than I'm satisfied, especially knowing job growth will take off in 2010, as this always happens during the phases of a Recovery..

If unemployment reaches 10% as opposed to 8% that he set as a goal I'm okay with that too considering what all the economists have been saying it would have gone to without the stimulus..... and I was just laid off in July. I'm not worried I won't be able to find a job.

Obama has done a great job thus far. My only criticism is that he should have first worked to reduce the deficit and national debt this year and then attempted healthcare reform...

That way he (and we who can think for ourselves) would not have had to endure the tantrums of those who voted the Republicans in twice and said nothing as they turned the surplus Clinton handed them to a trillion dollar deficit..... the whiners who didn't peep once while Bush and Co. nearly destroyed this country... To them I'd say... Just shut up.. You have no moral authority to complain now.

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:09 am ET

Do Libertarians ever get elected to government positions? Would they have to resign?

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:08 am ET

Do Libertarians drive on interstate highways?

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:07 am ET

When I travel to those red bible oriented states, I wonder why their state mottos do not reflect their beliefs in the billboards along the interstate. From what I can gather, all of them should change their state motto to, "We Bare All, Couples Invited."

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:03 am ET

Do Libertarians collect social security?

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 11:02 am ET

Lets build a fence around South Carolina and Texas to prevent right wingnuts from destroying our country.

Henry Miller, Libertarian, Cary, North Carolina   September 20th, 2009 10:52 am ET

Yeah, great "stimulus," Obama.

Politicians will say anything to get elected and, once elected, get whatever hare-brained scheme they're fond of enacted into law.

From what I can tell, Obama isn't an idiot, but he's sure doing a good job of playing one. Maybe it's being constantly surrounded by all those decades of accumulated idiocy in the White House–you know, the Ghosts of Morons Past.

victim of republican greed   September 20th, 2009 10:50 am ET

The stimulus is working! No one realized how close the republicans had run our country to ruin. While many of you wingnuts condemned the economic measures that Obama took, you complained about the stock market. At last glance it was up over 1600 points (20%) since the inauguration. You complained that the cash for clunkers would not work, and it not only eliminated the car dealers inventory, but removed almost 700,000 gas guzzlers from the streets. Orders and sales of durable goods are up, and unemployment has leveled off. To have do nothing like the wingnuts proposed would have been catastrophic.

Debra R   September 20th, 2009 10:50 am ET

Errr, how about this...we hire all the people who are unemployed to build a huge fence at the Mexican and Canadian border, round up every illegal immigrant and send them back home, then after that clean up there will be jobs and California may become solvent again? Nah! enforcing the law is too difficult.
How about: cutting federal funding for ACORN?
How about making able bodied people work for their welfare?
How about cleaning up Medicare and Medicaid, so we do not need a new healthcare?
How about imposing stricter import fees, so our people can afford to buy American made...maybe then all our jobs would not have been outsourced overseas?

Keith in Austin   September 20th, 2009 10:48 am ET

So your stimulous fiasco and immediate impact was just teleprompter b.s.?

Wow and now you want us to pay for your ill-gotten healthcare plan? No way Barry!!!!

New Age Democrat   September 20th, 2009 10:46 am ET

Unfortunately, Obama has proven that his team of "experts" are worse than those of the previous administration. Obama's PORK Stimulus Plan is a complete bust and has only made things worse. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a little money went to worthwhile causes, but overall it was a complete waste of American taxpayer dollars.

The question is, will the liberals that blasted Bush when his unemployment rating was 4.5% come out and bash Obama for his 10%? I doubt it... It was all about jobs then, and it should be now.

Gerda Edwards   September 20th, 2009 10:33 am ET

What exactly was your stimulus package advertised to do???? You know, the one that HAD to get rammed through Congress in days. The one that's stealing from our children and their children.

What did you say before to convince us to give it a try?...."save or create 3.5 million jobs"...."keep the unemployment rate below 8%."

What's up with this job saving and creating not really happening for another year or so? Not to mention the latest unemployment rate. Think it'll stay under 10% for September?

And now we're supposed to trust you on health care reform?

American citizen   September 20th, 2009 9:52 am ET

What happened to the unemployment rate staying at 8% because of the "stimulus"?

Willy Brown   September 20th, 2009 9:51 am ET

Obummer the liar.

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