ECONOMIC DATA

Jobless rate

The US unemployment rate for October will be released Friday morning. US employers added 156,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate increased to 5 percent.

NETWORKING

Welcome, veterans!

Veterans are invited to the monthly veteran networking reception. Attendees are encouraged to come make meaningful connections with other service members and hear about new opportunities and resources. The event features complimentary beer, wine, and appetizers. Proof of military service is required. Friday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Center for the Advancement of Veterans and Servicemembers, 271 Huntington Ave., second floor, Boston.

CLASS

Programming for newbies

Learn how to code and communicate more effectively with developers at this introductory workshop. Attendees will learn about different programming languages, different stages of Web development, and how to read and update simple lines of code. Laptops are required. Saturday, 12 to 4 p.m., General Assembly Boston Downtown, 125 Summer St., Boston. $70.

EVENT

Innovators and middle schoolers

Boston’s tech innovators are invited to join middle school students from the Generation Citizen civics program for the Greater Boston Civic Tech Challenge hackathon. Attendees will be grouped with students to build civic tech innovations to solve Greater Boston’s toughest problems. Tickets include admission into the awards ceremony on Nov. 10. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Microsoft Office Cambridge, 1 Cambridge Center, Cambridge. $50.

CONFERENCE

It’s time for SPARK

Everyone is invited to the SPARK 2016 Entrepreneurial Conference. The day starts with a pitch competition, and the event features a networking reception and keynote talks with startup founders and VC investors. Tickets include breakfast and lunch, and the day ends with cocktails and appetizers. Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Harvard Business School, Spangler Hall, Boston. $30 to $40.

Events of note? E-mail us at agenda@globe.com.