The unemployment rate rose in November, a warning sign for the health of a labor market that has been strained by federal layoffs and rising costs.

The president gives himself extra credit on the economy.

The White House on Tuesday sought to recast a dour November jobs report as a sign of economic progress, shrugging off an uptick in the nation’s unemployment rate and other potential hints of weakness ...

Their deliberations are rendered more difficult because official reports on the economy’s health are coming in late and incomplete after a 43-day government shutdown. The Labor Department is expected to provide at least a little clarity when it releases November numbers on hiring and unemployment Tuesday,