Spurred by a disappointing new unemployment report, President Barack Obama pushed on Friday for an expanded government program he said would help create tens of thousands of new clean-technology jobs.

"It's clear why such an effort is so important. Building a robust clean energy sector is how we will create the jobs of the future, jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced," Obama said at the White House.

He announced the award of $2.3 billion in tax credits to companies that manufacture wind turbines, solar panels, cutting-edge batteries and other green technologies. The money will come from last year's $787 billion stimulus program. He also renewed a call for Congress to approve an additional $5 billion to help create more such jobs.

Obama spoke after the Labor Department reported the loss of 85,000 jobs in December and a jobless rate holding at 10 percent, results Obama suggested were disappointing.