White House says nation’s work force back on track
Stimulus measure saved, created nearly 650,000 jobs, government claims

By The Associated Press Comments 2
Published: October 31, 2009

WASHINGTON — Nearly 650,000 jobs have been saved or created under President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan, the government said Friday, and the White House declared the nation on track to meet the president’s goal of 3.5 million by the end of next year.

More Info

OKLAHOMA TIES

Stimulus impact on state

With the first round of reporting complete, recipients in Oklahoma said they managed to create or save 8,700 jobs through the end of September. Most of those jobs — 8,500 — came from $1.9 billion in federal grants awarded to agencies, cities, counties, nonprofits and other groups. The other 200 jobs came from direct federal contracts.

The state Education Department told federal officials it managed to save about 4,200 jobs from direct stimulus funds or grants. The state Commerce department saved or created more than 800 jobs with energy efficiency, weatherization and employment programs, according to data released late Friday. Almost 500 jobs in construction and engineering came from state Transportation Department programs funded by stimulus money.

For more information about stimulus recipients, go to www.recovery.gov and click on the map of Oklahoma.

Database Editor Paul Monies

New job numbers from businesses, contractors, state and local governments, nonprofit groups and universities were released, showing 640,329 jobs from the stimulus, according to the independent federal board that must monitor the program’s progress.

Teachers and other education employees represent the largest number of jobs in the report — about 325,000. With state budgets in crisis, federal aid helped governors avoid major cuts in education, which officials said spared many teachers and school workers from the unemployment line.

Vice President Joe Biden said the recovery plan "is operating as advertised” and on target to reach Obama’s goal.

"We’re starting to make real progress on the road to recovery,” Biden said.

Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said "it’s bewildering” to see Obama administration job-creation claims.

White House economic adviser Jared Bernstein said the figures show that, adding in jobs linked to $288 billion in tax cuts, the stimulus made or saved more than 1 million jobs.

Government recovery plans — everything from the $787 billion stimulus to tax credits for new homes to government deals on new cars — are credited with helping the economy.

But the job market has yet to show recovery, putting pressure on the White House to show that the stimulus was worth it.