WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement Friday the jobs data is a "sad reminder" of the state of the economy. Earlier, the Labor Department said 171,000 jobs were created and the unemployment rate was 7.9% in October. "Today's increase in the unemployment rate is a sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill. The jobless rate is higher than it was when President Obama took office, and there are still 23 million Americans struggling for work. On Tuesday, America will make a choice between stagnation and prosperity," he said before promising a "real recovery" if elected president.