Jeff Immelt and Colin Powell

Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff hosted General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt and General Colin Powell, who both discussed their thoughts on the global economic climate, with both speakers reiterating the importance of creating new jobs. Essentially, both of them agreed that new jobs come from encouraging fast-growing companies and entrepreneurs.

Immelt acknowledged that recovery won’t be instantaneous, but he posited that “the U.S. economy gets a little bit better everyday.

However, he stipulated that figures like “8.1 percent unemployment can not be the new normal.”

Powell added the “jobs that have disappeared aren’t necessarily coming back,” so we need to create new ones and educate children for jobs of the future.

Immelt suggested these some these jobs will come out of Silicon Valley, manufacturing, and simply just focusing on “what’s possible with better methods.”

He also commented that the days of “cheap labor” are over, citing how GE has moved some of its factories and plants back to the U.S. from locations abroad. Immelt said this could be good for the United States as it will force the country to become more competitive while staying closer to customers.

Read more at ZDNet.