What are the three things at the top of many Americans’ wish list? It wouldn’t be overstating it to say jobs, jobs, and more jobs — and President Obama has sent the message that he’s on the case.

Countering mounting criticism that hot-button issues like Afghanistan have distracted his administration from the unemployment situation, President Obama convened a White House employment and economic forum on Thursday. Labor leaders, economists and business executives from around the country were invited to participate in a daylong summit with the President and key economic advisers.

The president pledged to evaluate “every demonstrably good idea” to solve the job crisis, but he also reminded attendees that government resources are limited.

“I want to be clear: while I believe the government has a critical role in creating the conditions for economic growth, ultimately true economic recovery is only going to come from the private sector,” the President told participants.

President Obama underscored the success of the 2009 economic stimulus package and affirmed he is receptive to government programs that give maximum return on public investment, like ‘cash for clunkers’. Introducing a weatherization incentives plan, the president said his administration would enlist home-improvement giants like Home Depot and building contractors to help promote the program. Dubbed ‘cash for caulkers’, the initiative would offer financial and tax incentives to individual homeowners and small businesses to ‘go green’ and invest in energy-saving improvements.

With unemployment numbers in double digits and 2010 congressional elections looming, there has been considerable pressure from Capitol Hill for the Obama administration to take an aggressive stance when it comes to the economy. The House leadership is currently crafting a jobs bill that would provide up to $70 billion for highways and other infrastructure projects and extend federal unemployment benefits. This package will undoubtedly spark spirited debate between Democrats, who favor a New Deal approach, and big-government critics in the GOP.

The president called on summit participants from corporations as diverse as the Disney Company, Fed Ex and Boeing for ideas. In addition, Mr. Obama announced his administration would be rolling out some economic initiatives in the coming weeks.

Where will these new jobs come from? Many economic advisers point to the Obama administration’s commitment to education and health care reform, as well as clean, ‘green’ energy development. For job-hungry Americans, training in these fields may well be the key to finding long-term employment with real growth potential.