Louisiana's unemployment rate rose for the seventh straight month in November, and what had been strong growth in employer payrolls waned.
The state's jobless rate rose to 6.5 percent, as growth in job seekers continued to outstrip increases in the number of people reporting they have jobs. The unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in October and 5.6 percent in November 2013.
Louisiana's labor force rose by 14,500 people in November, while only 7,100 more people reported having jobs.
A separate survey shows employer payrolls fell by almost 3,000, the first drop since January.
Both sets of figures — adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes — were released Friday by the U.S. Labor Department.
The report counted 142,000 unemployed Louisianans in November, above 135,000 in October and 117,000 in November 2013.