Non-farm payrolls rose by 204,000 in October and the unemployment rate climbed to 7.3% from 7.2% in in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
In September, non-farm payrolls rose a revised 163,000, originally reported as 148,000.
Economists polled by Thomson/Reuters expected 125,000 new jobs.
Private payrolls grew 212,000 in the month, following a 150,000 gain in September. Manufacturing jobs rose by 19,000, after a 4,000 rise the prior month.
Average weekly hours held at 34.4, while average hourly earnings rose two cents to $24.10.
Economists expected private payrolls to rise 130,000, manufacturing to add 4,000, a 7.3% unemployment rate, a 0.2% rise in earnings and a 34.5 hour workweek.
