During the housing bubble, many jobs were created building houses. During the internet bubble, many jobs were created working on websites. The financial bubble created many jobs on wall street. Yet, all these jobs were on overinflated speculative enterprises. Without a bubble, can the economy create enough jobs for every American?
Why should it be tough to create lots of jobs? It might seem there is plenty which needs to be done. We can improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Yet, while such improvements may be good for the economy, they may not create more jobs. These things save money, which might otherwise go to hiring people.
What need are currently unmet, which if they were met would create jobs? In many cases, such needs don't exist. In other cases, technology has automated away the need for many jobs. You only need the best at any thing, and then technology can be used to leverage their abilities.
The economy has gone and is moving towards an economy of only the best, brightest, or most politically-connected. Can everyone become the best at something, or will a lot of people be left behind? What can become of those who don't succeed?
There are many techniques to hide these fundamental programs. Various financial bubbles have been created, and some limited government assistance programs have been put in place. However, it seems it may be unrealistic for there to be jobs for everyone in the future economy.
Free market economics will not create the jobs. Alternatives are government programs to get people money and jobs. We need to take a hard look, and figure out the best way to do this.
There is an alternative, but it isn't pretty. War is the alternative. Sufficient destruction will create jobs, because it takes people to rebuild things. However, this is a very destructive solution. With every country getting nukes, this isn't pretty.
These are the facts we face today. How these are dealt with will determine the future.