Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao on October Employment Numbers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the October employment situation released today:

"Today's numbers show that despite the devastating battering of three recent hurricanes, the fundamentals of the economy are still strong. The unemployment rate fell to 5 percent, our economy still continues to add jobs, and average hourly earnings increased."