WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Friday's strong jobs report shows the US economy is continuing to recover, but it will grow faster if Congress approves job-creation programmes, said Mr Alan Krueger, a top economic advisor to President Barack Obama.

"It is critical that we remain focused on pursuing policies to speed job creation and expand the middle class, as we continue to dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007," Mr Krueger, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said in a statement.