WASHINGTON (October 31, 2012)--The monthly U.S. jobs report will be released as scheduled Friday despite concerns that Superstorm Sandy might force the Labor Department to delay its release.

The report on hiring and the unemployment rate for October will be the final jobs report before Election Day on Tuesday.

Department officials had said earlier in the week that they intended to release the report on time, but they didn't rule out the possibility of a delay.

Much of the final work on the monthly jobs report must be done inside secure government buildings, and federal offices were closed Monday and Tuesday.

Department officials said some employees came in Tuesday to work on the report.

Government offices reopened Wednesday.