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In this Aug. 25 photo, job seekers attend a job fair in Southfield, Mich. (AP Photo)
New employment figures released Friday fueled Republicans' call for President Obama to replace his economic team and "change course," as the president sought to put the best face on what many say is just more evidence of an economy stuck in neutral.
The unemployment rate rose in August for the first time in four months as more people entered the job market looking for work and struggled to find openings. The rate rose from 9.5 percent to 9.6 percent. One Republican called the numbers "anemic."
The president on Friday called an accompanying uptick in private employer hiring "positive news," but "not nearly good enough." He plans to hold a press conference next Friday to discuss a "broader" package of economic proposals.
"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 that's needed," Obama said Friday, flanked by his economic advisers.
But Republicans pointed to the Labor Department report as the latest sign that Obama's strategy has the economy treading water.
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