Obama welcomes news ideas on firing up economy

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says he's pleased with healthier job growth, but concedes the economy isn't producing enough jobs to accommodate people in need of work.

Speaking after the government released the November jobs report, Obama said he's "open to any idea, any proposal" that will help jumpstart the economy. At the same time, he said the country cannot afford two more years of partisan gridlock in Washington.

The president make his statement at the White House before leaving on an Asian trip. He said that America cannot get bogged down in political fights while other countries, like China, are moving forward aggressively to build their economies.

He said "the recession caused a great deal of hardship" and it's vital that business growth be spurred so that substantially more jobs can be created.