According to a new report from the Labor Department, the economy added 171,000 jobs in October. The unemployment rate rose to 7.9% as more workers entered the labor market. Job increases in September and August were revised upward, to 148,000 and 192,000. The report found that professional and business services and health care added the most jobs. The report marks the 25 straight month of job gains.
See "Modest Growth in Jobs Seen in Final Report Before Election", Catherine Rampell, The New York Times, November 1, 2012