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Emanuel, Clinton Reunite At Jobs Conference

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel appeared at a Chicago-hosted jobs conference on Wednesday with his old boss, former President Bill Clinton, and said Chicago has 120,000 job openings right now, but unemployment stands at 9 percent.

Emanuel worked in the Clinton White House and Bill Clinton has only glowing words for his former adviser.

"I predict to you that his tenure as mayor of Chicago will be one of the most brilliant chapters in this city's long and storied history," Clinton said at the Clinton Global Initiative conference at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers along the Chicago River.

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Emanuel said the public sector doesn't create jobs.

"We create the conditions," Emanuel said, "so you can invest and create jobs in our city."

Emanuel was the first speaker at the Clinton Global Initiative conference, which is focusing on jobs and job creation.

"There's 120,000 job openings in the city of Chicago, and yet I have a 9 percent unemployment. Those two facts should not go together, and yet they're sitting side-by-side," Emanuel added. "Am I getting the best for my job training, my community colleges, to make sure I have a trained work force for those job openings?"

The conference runs through Thursday evening, with Clinton and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner giving the closing remarks.

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