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US Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly

by Jim Randle

   WASHINGTON --

   The U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly to hit five percent in
   September. Friday's report from the Labor Department says the economy
   had a net gain of 156,000 jobs.

   The unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percent because more people
   started looking for work, though not all of them found it. U.S.
   officials count people as officially unemployed only if they are
   available for work and looked for a job sometime in the past four
   weeks.

   The data show 7.9 million Americans are out of work, a number that
   changed little in September. Another 5.9 million people are working
   part-time, but want full time work.