As President Obama prepares to address the nation on Thursday concerning the struggling jobs market, many are concerned that he is overlooking societal and environmental concerns in favor of boosting the economy.

David Wessel explains the multi-faceted approach we can expect to hear from President Obama, specifically lowering the unemployment rate through a series of tax cuts and plans to improve our nation’s infrastructure.

Other commentary suggests that his speech is more political, as he tries to convince  voters that he can deliver results and work with both parties in order to succeed. This willingness to cooperate (or give in, some say) is evidenced by his measure to loosen environmental policy that some say hinder job growth. Paul Krugman examines some of the environmental concerns that go along with job creation.

An example of bypassing health concerns in favor of job creation is the new plan for natural gas drilling of Marcellus Shale in Albany. Detractors say the governor is “fast-tracking” the drilling process without conclusive information on its effect on drinking water in the state.

As the Republican debates heat up, a lot of attention is being directed to current Texas governor Rick Perry, who often takes responsibility for the state’s low unemployment figures.

Paul Osterman took a closer look at the job growth that Perry helped create in the Rio Grande Valley, where employment has risen more than 40% in the last decade. After conducting extensive research in the area, he found that many of the jobs are extremely low-paying, leading to an overall decline in quality of life in the area.

We’ll have to see what kind of impact the disregard for public well-being will have on the nation after our economic situation has recovered.

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Obama to add jobs, but at what cost to the environment and society?