VOA标准英语2009-Obama To Host Jobs Summit in December

By Mil Arcega
Washington
13 November 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed a Labor¹ Department report Thursday that suggests the pace of job losses is slowing. But with the nation's unemployment rate at 10.2 percent, the president is asking business leaders and economic experts to come up with new ideas on how to create jobs.

 
Sonja Jackson, of Detroit, holds a Employment Guide standing² in line while attending a job fair in Livonia, Michigan, 04 Nov 2009
With the unemployment rate at a 26-year high, President Obama announced plans to host a jobs forum³ next month at the White House. 

"We'll gather CEOs and small business owners, economists⁴ and financial experts, as well as representatives from labor unions and non-profit groups, to talk about how we can work together to create jobs and get this economy moving again," Mr. Obama said.

Speaking to reporters before leaving on his first trip to Asia as president, Mr. Obama called a Labor Department report showing a better than expected drop in weekly jobless claims - "a hopeful sign". But he says the improved economic picture has yet to translate into job growth.

"Small businesses and large firms are demanding more of their employees. They're increasing their hours, and adding temporary workers, but these companies have not yet been willing to take the steps necessary to hire again," Mr. Obama states.

That reluctance⁵ to hire new workers remains⁶ one of the administration's biggest challenges. The president says he's open to new ideas. "It's through these steps with our partners that we will not only revive our economy in the short term, but rebuild it stronger in the long term," he said.

Job growth tends to lag behind other indicators⁷, but there are signs the worst recession in decades may be over.

The Commerce Department says the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter. And a new report shows home foreclosures fell for a third straight month while home sales continued to rise.

 

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。