US President Barack Obama has challenged his country to see its difficult times as a chance to "discover great opportunity"... in the midst of crisis. Obama made the remark during his weekly radio and video address broadcast on Saturday.

The work week ended with more bad news. A new report showed 651,000 more Americans losing their jobs... and an unemployment rate climbing to 8.1 percent.

That's the highest rate of people out of work in more than 25 years. Meanwhile, the recession is continuing to put enormous pressures on families and industries.

Obama offered hope and encouragement amid the challenges many American are experiencing in the early months of his presidency.

Obama said: "The unemployment rate has now surpassed 8 percent, the highest rate in a quarter century. These aren't just statistics, but hardships experienced personally by millions of Americans who no longer know how they'll pay their bills, or make their mortgage, or raise their families. From the day I took office, I knew that solving this crisis would not be easy, nor would it happen overnight. And we will continue to face difficult days in the months ahead. But I also believe that we will get through this - that if we act swiftly and boldly and responsibly, the United States of America will emerge stronger and more prosperous than it was before."

Obama's goal was to reassure the country that he and his team are taking specific steps to create jobs in the short term. And that they are also beginning to address huge issues such as health care.

Economists predict the unemployment rate will continue to climb. Some predict it could even hit 9 percent or higher, this year.

The US economy contracted at a staggering 6.2 percent in the final three months of 2008. Analysts say the US economy will likely continue shrinking during the first six months of this year.

(CCTV March 9, 2009)