WASHINGTON (AFP) - Wednesday marks one year since Barack Obama was elected America's first black president swept to power on a promise of change, but it will be just another day for the US leader battling a deep recession and two wars.

On November 4, 2008, Obama was feted by a joyous crowd during his victory speech in a Chicago park after beating Republican John McCain to the White House in an election that promised to reshape his nation.

But 12 months on the administration has no plans to celebrate Obama's historic victory, perhaps sensing there is little appetite for a party amid the worst US recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Obama plans to take part in a diplomatic ceremony on Wednesday at the White House, before traveling north to a school in Wisconsin to take up the fight for another of his key priorities -- education reform.

A year ago his message was one of "Change We Can Believe In." Today he has honed his words to stress that "change is hard."

The first anniversary since his election comes as the unemployment figures for October are set to be unveiled on Friday. And with the number of jobless having already hit 9.8 percent in September -- the worst since 1983 -- there is likely to be little to cheer.

"We anticipate that we're going to continue to see some job losses in the weeks and months to come," Obama stressed Monday.

He highlighted that the actions taken by his government had "helped to stem what could have been a disastrous situation for the economy," adding "we are starting to see stabilization and indeed some improvement."

But he acknowledged that "we are still seeing production levels that are significantly below peak levels. And most distressing is the fact that job growth continues to lag."

Another of his key platforms, health care reform, has been bogged down in testy negotiations in Congress, but there is hope that a landmark deal could be reached before year's end. That would prove a real coup, after successive administrations struggled unsuccessfully with the issue.

Abroad, Obama's policy of engaging US foes has so far yielded few breakthroughs, although the promise of his fledgling presidency won him the Nobel Peace Prize last month.

But now the 48-year-old president, who came to power vowing to end one war, in Iraq, is mulling whether to escalate another -- in Afghanistan.

Despite everything though, he is still standing, with his approval rating above the crucial 50 percent barrier that defines a viable presidency.

Three off-year elections taking place Tuesday are being seen as a mini-referendum on the young president's first year in power.

Republicans, however, were scenting blood in gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia as well as a battle for a New York congressional seat with the polls set to close later in the day.

Opinion remains divided as to whether the votes will really prove a bellwether on his popularity with local personalities and politics so much in play in the three races.

But the results are likely to be closely scrutinized as both Democrats and Republicans gear for key mid-term congressional elections in November 2010, which could mark a shift in power.

Had it not been for the huge expectations in the United States and abroad, Obama's first 10 months in office might seem more of a success.

"He has delivered more than most presidents, and more quickly than most," said Bruce Buchanan, a professor of government at the University of Texas.

The ugly political mood he promised to quell, however, rages louder than ever and dictated that only three Republicans voted for the 787-billion-dollar economic stimulus bill passed in February.

For now, passing that rescue package stands as one of Obama's top domestic achievements. Democrats say it revived the economy and created a million jobs. Republicans call it a colossal waste of money.