UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TICKS SLIGHTLY UPWARDS FOR OCT.

The jobless rate in the state crept up in Oct. to 6.6 percent, but revised numbers for Sept. show better than expected returns. The projections show that the state lost 4500 jobs in Oct, but the initial projection of a 600 job gain in Sept. was increased to 3000 jobs. In total, the unemployment rate moved up .1 percent from Sept. to Oct. New Jersey continues to trail the national average for unemployment at 5.8 percent. Year-to-year, New Jersey has increases jobs by 9200.