英语文摘：Obama calls for stepped-up efforts to create jobs

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that the latest monthly jobs report was "positive news," but the country should continue to speed up its job-creation efforts.

Obama spoke alongside his economic team in the White House Rose Garden on Friday after the Labor Department reported August employment figures.

Nonfarm payroll employment in the United States dropped by 54,000 last month, lower than analysts' prediction. Private-sector payroll employment edged up by 67,000, the Labor Department reported on Friday.

"We are confident that we are moving in the right direction. But we want to keep this recovery moving stronger and accelerate the job growth," he said.

However, U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, reflecting business reluctance to hire amid uncertain economic prospects.