Obama: Economy Probably Won't Produce Enough Jobs Until 2010

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama says that despite signs of economic recovery, the country will not see large-scale job growth until next year.

President Obama discusses the economy and other topics with CNN's John King.

In a wide-ranging interview broadcast Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," Obama said reversing job losses from the recession will come at the end of the recovery period, not the start.

"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," Obama told CNN chief national correspondent John King in the interview, conducted Friday.

Obama explained that he believes the economy will be creating jobs through the end of 2009 -- but not enough to keep pace with population growth nor 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," the president said. "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."

He called the issue "something that I ask every single one of my economic advisers every single day, 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," Obama said.

On health care reform, another of his top domestic agenda items, the president rejected a recent comment by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, that conservative opponents were "winning the health care debate."

McConnell was referring to heated town hall meetings around the country and a recent march on Washington organized by conservatives opposed to Obama's policies, which he said were forcing the president and Democrats to soften some positions.

Asked about McConnell's comment, Obama responded "Well, you know ... they were saying they were winning during the election, too."

Obama repeated his opposition to providing health insurance or government subsidies for coverage to illegal immigrants. Republicans have said that Democratic proposals in Congress have loopholes that would allow illegal immigrants to get free coverage or funding, a charge that Obama and Democrats initially denied as misinformation.

The issue gained prominence after Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, shouted "You lie!" at Obama during the president's September 9 address on health care to a joint session of Congress. Wilson, who was criticized by Democrats and Republicans and immediately apologized, was formally rebuked by the House of Representatives, but insists his action -- while inappropriate -- prompted Democrats to promise stronger enforcement sought by Republicans.

In the interview, Obama called for a "verification mechanism" similar to procedures for other social programs, calling it "a pretty straightforward principle that will be met."

He also said a compromise health care proposal coming before the Senate Finance Committee this week contains many of the provisions he is seeking in a final bill.

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