The latest job figures from the Labor Department indicate that the U.S. economy added 204,000 jobs which represent better-than-expected number for the month of October.

These figures came against a backdrop of a 16-day shutdown of government services earlier last month.

Notwithstanding, the latest figures showed that the unemployment rate inched up to 7.3% from 7.2% in September.

However, the latest positive job figures combined with latest U.S. economic data of a 2.8% growth rate represent a positive outlook for the world’s biggest economy.

Yvad Billings, Readers Bureau, Fellow