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Strategy for New American Jobs
US Chamber of Commerce - 20 Million Job Challenge
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Strategy for New American Jobs
US Chamber of Commerce - 20 Million Job Challenge		   Strategy for New American Jobs
US Chamber of Commerce - 20 Million Job Challenge

January 25, 2010

http://www.freeenterprise.com/ - A project of the US Chamber of Commerce
(download the 12 page PDF version here)

The greatest challenge we face is reviving our economy, restoring the 7 million jobs lost to the current recession, and creating the 13 million new jobs that our growing nation will need in the next 10 years. Only a vibrant American free enterprise system can accomplish this goal.
 
In every state, city, and town across America, individuals are struggling to maintain and build their businesses, not only for themselves and their employees but for the millions of Americans who can’t find jobs today and the millions more who will need jobs tomorrow.

The uncertainty facing American businesses is, in part, due to actions being taken in Washington. With elected officials debating significant changes to health care, tax, and climate change policies—to name just a few—businesses are understandably hesitant to make the necessary investments to create jobs. And while the economy has started to grow modestly and should continue growing in the coming months, it will not be sufficient to quickly reduce high unemployment and put people back to work.

American free enterprise has lifted this country out of tough times before, and it must be able to do so now and in the future. Only with a strong and growing private sector—backed by sensible government policies with modest levels of regulation and taxation and a reasonable degree of certainty—can we reach this goal.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Strategy for New American Jobs lays out six policy strategies needed to accelerate growth and put our citizens back to work.

Double U.S. Exports in Five Years - Ninety-five percent of the potential consumers of American goods and services live outside the United States. We can create millions of good American jobs by pursuing the achievable goal of doubling our exports to those consumers in five years—and then doing it again.

Rebuild America’s Infrastructure - We have an extraordinary opportunity to modernize the economic platform of our nation and employ many Americans by expanding both private and public sector investments in our transportation, energy, water, and broadband systems. In 2010, Congress needs to tackle the reauthorization of highway, transit, aviation, and water infrastructure legislation.

Invest in Energy and Pursue Breakthrough Technologies - We must enable technology breakthroughs and produce more American energy from all sources. Tens of thousands of new jobs could be supported through a major expansion of clean, safe nuclear energy. More than 380 promising energy projects—including wind, solar, coal, and nuclear—are currently being delayed. It’s time to end the unnecessary barriers that cost jobs and threaten our energy diversity, security, and leadership.

Promote Healthy Credit Markets - We urgently need to find ways to ensure that businesses, especially small businesses, can get the credit they need to expand and create jobs. For generations, America has been better than any other country at connecting an entrepreneur with a new idea and an investor. Businesses, especially small and growing ones, must be able to get the credit they need to expand and create jobs.

Remove Uncertainty Regarding Tax, Health, Environmental, Labor, Legal, and Fiscal Policies - Congress, the administration, and the states must recognize that our weak economy simply cannot sustain all the new taxes, regulations, and mandates now under consideration. It’s a surefire recipe for a double-dip recession, or worse.

Educate and Train American Workers - Creating new jobs is not enough—we must adequately train workers to fill those jobs. Nearly a third of American students fail to graduate from high school, and those who do are often ill-prepared for college or jobs in the modern economy. We must change the way we train our teachers, strengthen standards and accountability in the classroom, and encourage a spirit of innovation throughout our education system.

Job Strategy in Action

The Campaign for Free Enterprise’s 20 Million Job Challenge will highlight the state-specific jobs needed to meet this goal and urges policymakers, business leaders, and the public to commit to supporting American free enterprise—the system that creates opportunity, encourages innovation, rewards hard work, and promotes growth.

According to a study conducted for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Kentucky, the largest employment losses between December 2007 and August 2009 have been in California (989,000), Michigan (526,000), Florida (502,000), and Illinois (419,000). In addition, two states had employment losses in excess of 300,000 (Georgia and Ohio), and five states had employment losses in excess of 200,000 (Alabama, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania).

State leaders—like national leaders—are seeking ways to foster growth and get people back to work. Through the American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign, local dialogues are taking place among business and community leaders across the country on how to create jobs and revive the economy.

About the Campaign for Free Enterprise

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region. As the voice of business, the Chamber’s core purpose is to fight for free enterprise before Congress, the White House, regulatory agencies, the courts, the court of public opinion, and governments around the world.