At sign-making company, Obama plays up modest job growth, says progress must come faster

Obama: Job creation continuing, must come faster

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is hailing the seventh straight month of private job creation as a good sign for the economy. But he says the progress “needs to come faster.”

The president spoke at Gelberg Signs, a small business in Washington, D.C., that is expanding and hiring workers.

His comments came as a new jobs report out Friday shows companies lacked strong confidence in hiring for a third straight month.

The unemployment rate was stuck at 9.5 percent, and private employers added a net total of only 71,000 jobs.

Obama says the country is now consistently adding jobs instead of losing them in huge numbers. He said that for workers, the progress must be accelerated. He called on Congress to take more steps to help businesses.