Louisiana payrolls jump most in nation in November

Louisiana payrolls rose by 13,000 jobs in November, or 0.9%, the largest jump in percentage from October levels of any state in the nation. Payroll employment pushed to an all-time high of 1.96 million in the state, moving beyond the pre-Hurricane Katrina peak of 1.95 million for the first time, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers released today. At the same time, the separate unemployment survey showed that the state’s jobless rate fell to 5.8%. That’s down from 6.6% in October and below the 7.1% unemployment rate of November 2011. The last time Louisiana had an unemployment rate below 6% was in January 2009. The number of unemployed Louisianans fell to 120,000 from 138,000 in October. In November 2011, 146,000 Louisianans were unemployed. Unemployment rates fell in 45 states and the District of Columbia in November, reflecting a sharp drop in the national jobless rate despite Superstorm Sandy and the budget standoff in Washington. Unemployment was unchanged in five states.