Louisiana added 2,600 private-sector jobs in December while the state’s unemployment rate declined from 6.2 percent to 6.1 percent over the month, according to seasonally-adjusted data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to a news release from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Education and health services had the largest over-the-month gain with 2,600 new jobs in December. With 316,100 jobs, the education and health services sector is at an all-time high. Manufacturing added 1,000 jobs over the month while trade, transportation and utilities added 800. Mining and logging, which encompasses the oil and gas industry, lost 1,600 jobs in December and 6,100 jobs over the past year.
Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie said, “Louisiana’s health care industry continues to break employment records with more and more jobs each month thanks in large part to Gov. Edwards’ expansion of Medicaid.”
She added, “The LWC is working hard to not only support this increase in jobs in our state, but to also cultivate and expand the skillsets of existing healthcare workers through our partnerships with industry-leading employers like Ochsner Health Systems.”
Seasonally-adjusted data showed the following for the state’s MSAs:
— Alexandria lost 200 jobs over the month and 500 jobs over the year.
— Baton Rouge lost 100 jobs over the month and gained 9,000 jobs over the year.
— Houma gained 100 jobs over the month and lost 1,200 jobs over the year.
— Lake Charles lost 900 jobs over the month and gained 1,700 jobs over the year.
— Monroe gained 300 jobs over the month and 700 jobs over the year.
— New Orleans gained 700 jobs over the month and 3,900 jobs over the year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report seasonally-adjusted data for Hammond, Lafayette and Shreveport because of changes in those areas’ demographics. Not-seasonally-adjusted data for December showed:
— Hammond was lost 100 jobs over the month and gained 100 jobs over the year.
— Lafayette lost 300 jobs over the month and 6,500 jobs over the year.
— Shreveport was unchanged over the month and lost 1,300 jobs over the year.
Seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparisons among states and the nation while not-seasonally-adjusted data are useful for comparing trends in parishes and metropolitan statistical areas, and for comparison to the state.