Louisiana’s job market slackened in June, as unemployment rose and employer payrolls fell.
The state’s jobless rate rose to 4.7% from 4.6% in May. It was the unemployment rate’s third straight monthly increase, although it remained below the June 2017 rate of 5.2%.
The number of unemployed Louisianans rose by 4,000, topping 100,000 for the first time since September.
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The separate employer payroll survey—which is many economists’ top labor market indicator—fell slightly to 1.99 million. Payrolls remain 17,000 above year-ago levels, thanks to strong gains in early 2018.
June’s U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4% from May’s 3.8%.
The U.S. Labor Department released figures Friday, adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes.
