Louisiana unemployment rate unchanged in October; almost 3 percent below national rate

La. down 1,900 jobs in Oct.; 44,000 over the year

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana lost 1,900 nonfarm jobs in October and 44,000 over the last year, with big hits in manufacturing and in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, the state Workforce Commission reported.

The state’s preliminary rate for seasonally adjusted unemployment was 7.4 percent, unchanged from September’s revised figure. The national unemployment rate was 10.2 percent, up 0.4 percent from September.

On Tuesday, the work force commission estimated Louisiana’s non-seasonally adjusted, nonfarm employment for October at just over 1.9 million.

Monthly gains of 1,400 jobs in education and health services and of 1,300 in professional and business services were overshadowed by losses of 2,500 in trade, transportation and utilities and 1,300 jobs in mining and logging.

In all, six of the 11 sectors showed monthly losses, including 700 in construction, 400 in information, 300 in leisure and hospitality and 200 in other services.

Over the year, nine of the 11 areas fell, with the biggest losses 10,300 each in manufacturing and in the trade, transportation, and utilities sectors.

Professional and business services lost 6,600 jobs since October 2008, followed by 5,500 in financial activities; 5,400 each in mining and logging and in leisure and hospitality.

The only yearly job gains occurred in education and health services, which added 4,500, and government which grew by 400 positions.