The unemployment rate went up two-tenths of a percentage point in both Halifax and nationally, while the province's rate went down by the same amount.

Statistics Canada says 43,000 people lost their jobs between September and October.

About 1,000 of those jobs were right here in Halifax.

But the province as a whole gained more than that in health care social assistance, accommodation and food services sectors.

Charles Cirtwill, executive vice president with the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, says we shouldn't read too much into the numbers.

"It's a fruitless exercise to try and find any green shoot we possibly can," says Cirtwell. 

"Everyone is going to be interested in these numbers, they're going to be looking at them for signs that things are getting worse, things are getting better."

He says the unemployment rate is up because more people are looking for work.