U.S. Added 80,000 Jobs In October; Jobless Rate Dips

By Christopher S. Rugaber

WASHINGTON -- The American economy added 80,000 jobs in October, and job growth in the two previous months was much stronger than first thought, an encouraging sign as the nation searches for a way out of the jobs crisis.

The unemployment rate dropped to 9 percent from 9.1 percent, the first time it has fallen since July, the government said Friday.