ABJ - November 7 - Nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend up in October (+80,000), while the unemployment rate was little changed at nine per cent, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Employment in the private sector rose, with modest job growth continuing in professional and businesses services, leisure and hospitality, health care, and mining. Government employment continued to trend down.

Both the number of unemployed persons (13.9 million) and the unemployment rate (nine per cent) changed little over the month. The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range from nine to 9.5 per cent since April across the United States.

In October, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27-plus weeks) declined by 366,000 to 5.9 million, or 42.4 per cent of total unemployment. The civilian labor force participation rate remained at 64.2 per cent in October, and the employment-population ratio was little changed at 58.4 per cent.

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons decreased by 374,000 to 8.9 million in October. These individuals were working part time as hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.