Thank you for writing.  I have heard from many Americans who are losing their jobs or facing long-term unemployment and struggling to pay their bills.  Every day, I make sure we are doing all we can to create good jobs and to help Americans support their families and pursue the American dream.

This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it.  At stake is the survival of the American promise that if you work hard, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put enough away for retirement.  The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive, and I will not stop working to build an economy that works for everyone—where every hard-working American gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and plays by the same rules.  To see my full blueprint for an America built to last, with an economy based on American manufacturing, energy, workers, and values, I encourage you to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/economy.

Our economy is growing stronger, adding over 2 million private sector jobs in 2011 alone—the best job growth since 2005.  Yet, there are still far too many Americans who need jobs.  We need to bring about a new era of American manufacturing by making it easier for our companies to create jobs here at home and to sell products stamped with “Made in America” all over the world.  To turn this vision into a reality, we hosted the “Insourcing American Jobs” forum in January 2012 to bring together business leaders from across our country to discuss one topic:  how to encourage companies to bring jobs back to and invest in the United States.  To help them do so, I have put forward new tax proposals that reward companies that choose to bring jobs home and invest in America while eliminating tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.  I also set a goal of doubling our exports of goods and services by 2014, which will create new manufacturing jobs, and we are ahead of schedule to meet that goal.

We need to reach for a new era in American energy, with an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources designed and produced by American workers.  We are taking every possible action to safely develop a massive, newly accessible supply of natural gas in the United States that will last nearly 100 years and support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade.  We are also working to create jobs in renewable energy and ensuring our all-of-the-above energy strategy does not put the health and safety of Americans at risk.

An economy built to last also demands that we cultivate the skills of our students and workers so they remain the best in the world.  Employers today are looking for skilled, educated workers, and we have a responsibility to provide our workforce with the tools to prepare for the jobs of today and to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.  We have made a national commitment to train 2 million workers for good-paying jobs in high-growth and high-demand industries, and my Administration is helping community colleges redesign training programs to become community career centers.  With the extension of the payroll tax cut, we also made sure no working American will see their taxes go up this year and the millions of Americans still looking for work will be able to get help with unemployment insurance.

As our troops return home, we need to ensure they can find jobs to put their unparalleled skill and experience to use.  My Administration has helped 600,000 veterans and their family members go back to school on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, hired over 120,000 veterans into jobs with the Federal Government, made it easier for veterans to access employment services, and set up online tools to connect veterans with job openings that match their skills.  In January 2012, I proposed the Veterans Job Corps, which would put veterans back to work protecting America as first responders and preserving and restoring America’s land and resources.  We have also proposed an expansion of entrepreneurship training opportunities for separating service members and veterans.  America’s businesses have accepted a challenge proposed by First Lady Michelle Obama’s and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces initiative to hire 135,000 veterans and military spouses, and we have put in place two new tax credits for companies that hire veterans.  Supporting our troops and helping veterans find work is good for our communities, good for our economy, and good for our country.  To explore the many programs in place to help fight veteran unemployment, visit www.JoiningForces.gov.

Our Nation is recovering from one of the worst economic crises in generations, and we still have a long way to go to make sure every American who wants a job can find one, every family can regain the sense of security that has been slipping away, and our communities can get fully back on their feet.  From passing the Recovery Act to saving the American auto industry, my Administration has laid a strong foundation for growth, and we continue to take bold action to do what is right for our economy.  Today, the tide is finally turning.  Businesses have created millions of new jobs, more companies are bringing jobs back and investing in America, manufacturers are hiring, and our economy is growing stronger.  While it will take time to fully repair the damage done by the worst recession in our lifetime, I am confident our Nation will not only recover, but also prosper in the 21st century.

To find an employment center near you, select your state at www.DOL.gov/DOL/Location.htm.  For available assistance with education and job training, please visit www.Opportunity.gov.  For career resources, call 1-877-872-5627 or visit www.CareerOneStop.org.  For more information on jobs, health benefits, housing assistance, and other public resources, call 1-800-FEDINFO or visit www.USA.gov.

Thank you, again, for writing.