RALEIGH -- National jobs rates are out for October, and the numbers look like the economy was able to hold on despite a partial government shutdown. Employers added 204,000 jobs nationally. NC State Economics Professor Dr. Mike Walden says growth was not anticipated.

Dr. Walden added, "It was a little bit of a surprise. Many economists thought that the government shutdown would slow economic growth. And this was a number that's on the high side of where we've been the last few months."

According to Dr. Walden, these numbers are not all good news; some of the reason there appeared to be growth was due to more people dropping out of the workforce and no longer looking for employment.