Unemployment Ticks Up to 7.9 percent, 171,000 Jobs Add In October

Black unemployment up almost a percentage point higher from September

The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday announced the nation’s unemployment rate was virtually unchanged in October, but rose slightly to 7.9 percent, with 171,000 jobs added to the economy. The unemployment rate for African American, however, jumped up from 13.4 to 14.3 percent last month. The unemployment rates for Asians (4.9 percent), Hispanics (10 percent) and whites (7 percent) were unchanged. The Labor Department also revised last month’s jobs numbers from 114,000 to 148,000. This is the final jobs report before Election Day. Barack Obama is facing reelection with the highest unemployment rate of any incumbent since Franklin Roosevelt, The Associated Press reports. (AP)

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