Low oil prices continue to have a negative impact on Louisiana as the mining and logging sector lost 1,200 jobs in the month of February and 11,300 over the year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
And while the state civilian labor force rose by more than 10,000 people during February, Louisiana’s unemployment rate for the month held steady at 5.9%. The rate was unchanged from January but down from the 6.7% for the same period in 2015.
The Baton Rouge metro area lost 1,400 jobs in February but is up 7,200 jobs over the year. Baton Rouge’s job losses were second in the state behind the New Orleans metro area, which lost 2,000 jobs.
Statewide, the civilian labor force, or the number of people employed and unemployed but actively looking for a job, rose to an estimated 2.1 million. It was the second consecutive month increase after 12 months of declines.
“The increase in the civilian labor force may be a cautious signal that job-seekers are gaining confidence that they can find employment in our state despite the downturn in the oil and gas industry,” says Ava Dejoie, Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director.
According to the bureau, nonfarm jobs in February totaled about 2 million, down 4,700 from January and 18,700 from a year ago. The state lost 4,700 construction jobs over the month but the sector job numbers still are up about 3,400 over a year.
There were also losses in the state’s leisure and hospitality sector. According to the bureau, 2,700 jobs were lost in February and the sector is down 200 over the year.
