Barack Obama, in his first news conference as president-elect, said the nation was facing the economic challenge of a lifetime but expressed confidence he could deal with it.

“Immediately after I become president, I’m going to confront this economic crisis head on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hardworking families, and restore growth and prosperity,” he said after a recent meeting with economic advisers in Chicago. “I’m confident a new president can have an enormous impact. Our workforce needs a boost in confidence.”

The nation’s jobless ranks zoomed past 10 million last month, the most in a quarter-century. In addition, Gallup’s Net New Hiring Activity shows that U.S. employees’ perceptions of the job situation at their companies worsened significantly in October, with the downward trend continuing to accelerate, as it has over the past three months.

Regardless of your political persuasion, let’s hope the change in administration provides the spark that ignites our economy, restores confidence, and does in fact lead to renewed growth and prosperity. The American worker deserves nothing less.