US unemployment has reached a four-year high, according to the new jobs report. But the overall data paints a slightly mixed picture for the US economy.
The unemployment rate in the US climbed to a four-year high of 4.6% last month - up from 4.4% in September (October data is missing because of the government shutdown), BBC reports.
Employers added 64,000 jobs in November, according to the report. The private sector had the most gains. Major losses in government jobs in October are reflective of the impacts of the government shutdown.
Overall, the report is mixed. Experts are divided on the direction the labour market is going and whether or not the Federal Reserve will continue to cut interest rates - as it's been doing over the last few months.
The rise in unemployment, combined with the 64,000 in payroll gains, makes it hard to get a picture of where the job market is going, one expert said.
"This is not a release that is going to resolve current debates about the health of the labour market," said Brian Coulton, chief economist at Fitch Ratings.
"But allied with other indicators such as jobless claims and job openings, the labour market is certainly not falling over."