I actually think that government can and has created jobs, but you have to have a government that can reason and not one that thinks that everything is evil except giving handouts. I live in a state that is blessed with an abundance of hyro-power. It took federal (government) money to build the dams that harnesses that energy. The industry and jobs that developed because of that government investment are incalculable.
When Raegan was President, the Social Security tax was increased to prepare for the baby-boomers and rightly so, but imagine if that money were invested in things that would create a return; such as power generation, water projects and maybe even some research, etc.--instead of just being wasted in the general fund. The excess funds should have had very definite restrictions put on them.
And by the way, imagine how much money would have been saved if we did have an effective border security system. It's still not too late, but I doubt that a fence is the answer. A double fence with a minefield between might work.