The Challenges Creating jobs, increasing U.S. competitiveness, and protecting national security Among the challenges facing government leaders today are creating jobs, increasing the competitiveness of the American workforce, and protecting the security of our nation. The worst recession since the 1930s has resulted in extensive commercial layoffs and the steepest declines in state tax receipts on record, threatening hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs. Rural U.S. communities in particular are struggling with continuing job losses in the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and automotive industries. The challenge for many rural areas is transforming from a commodity-based economy to one that is knowledge driven. That means …