President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness

President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness was an advisory body established by President Barack Obama to provide non-partisan advice on strengthening the American economy and creating employment. It was formed in the aftermath of the Great Recession, succeeding the earlier Economic Recovery Advisory Board chaired by Paul Volcker. The council focused on proposing actionable ideas from the private sector to foster job creation, investment, and competitiveness within the global marketplace.

Background and establishment

The council was created by Executive Order 13564 on January 21, 2011, against a backdrop of persistent high unemployment following the financial crisis of 2007–2008. It replaced the Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which had been established in 2009. The shift reflected a desire to move from crisis response to a longer-term strategy for economic growth and innovation. The announcement was made by President Obama in a speech at General Electric's facility in Schenectady, New York, emphasizing partnership with business leaders outside of Washington, D.C..

Membership and structure

The council was composed primarily of CEOs from major corporations, along with leaders from labor unions, academia, and non-profit organizations. It was chaired by Jeff Immelt, then Chairman and CEO of General Electric. Vice Chairs included Kenneth Chenault of American Express and A. G. Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble. Other notable members included Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, Richard Trumka of the AFL–CIO, Penny Pritzker of PSP Partners, and John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins. The council operated through subcommittees focusing on specific areas like infrastructure, regulatory reform, and workforce skills.

Key initiatives and recommendations

The council's work culminated in a series of concrete recommendations presented in reports to the Obama Administration. A major focus was "Go Build America," an initiative to address a shortage of skilled workers in the construction and manufacturing sectors, modeled on successful programs like Build Your Future in North Carolina. It strongly advocated for streamlining the permitting process for major infrastructure projects, an idea that influenced the creation of the Federal Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Steering Council established by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. Other proposals included expanding visa programs for entrepreneurs, promoting insourcing of jobs to the United States, and reforming the corporate tax code.

Impact and legacy

While the council's recommendations were advisory, several were adopted as policy or inspired legislative action. Its advocacy was instrumental in the launch of the SelectUSA initiative within the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote foreign direct investment. The emphasis on workforce development and STEM education aligned with broader administration efforts like the TechHire initiative. The council also provided a high-profile platform for bipartisan dialogue on economic issues, though some critics, including members of the United States Congress like Senator Bernie Sanders, questioned the predominant influence of large corporate interests in its deliberations.

Dissolution and successor bodies

The President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness was effectively dissolved at the end of the Obama Administration on January 17, 2017. Its functions were not continued by the subsequent Trump Administration, which pursued different economic advisory structures. However, the focus on public-private partnerships for competitiveness was carried forward in various forms, such as the National Council for the American Worker established under Executive Order 13845 in 2018. The council's archives and records are maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration as part of the historical record of the Executive Office of the President.

Category:Advisory councils in the United States Category:Barack Obama administration Category:Economic history of the United States Category:2011 establishments in the United States Category:2017 disestablishments in the United States