Private sector jobs in the state grew by 4,600 from April to May, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, but the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up from 6.7 percent to 6.9 percent in May.
Private sector jobs in the state grew by 4,600 from April to May, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, but the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up from 6.7 percent to 6.9 percent in May. In addition to private sector growth, the government industry grew by 6,500 jobs over the month, primarily due to the temporary hiring by the Census Bureau.
May's unemployment rate remains the 10th lowest in the nation and the second lowest in the southern region. The Southern region rate for May was 9.4 percent. The May 2010 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States was 9.7 percent, down from the April rate of 9.9 percent.
The commission notes that May's payroll report is based on results from business surveys taken in the second week of May and does not cover independent fishermen or any other self-employed occupations that may have been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
"We are closely monitoring developments with the oil spill and the moratorium on deepwater drilling," says Curt Eysink, LWC executive director. "This disaster is likely to have far-reaching impacts on employment for many people and industries in our state."