Louisiana sees 2nd-best nonfarm employment gains on the year

Unemployment rates rose in 27 U.S. states in June compared to the month previous, the most in almost a year and a reflection of weaker hiring nationwide, according to a preliminary June jobs report out this morning from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, there’s a bit of good news for Louisiana in the report, which says the Bayou State had the second-largest employment percentage increase in the nation. North Dakota had the largest increase, with 6.5% more of its residents with a job this June than were last June. Louisiana followed at 2.8%, with the addition of about 52,700 jobs. According to the report, 11 states and the District of Columbia posted unemployed rate decreases, and 12 states had no change. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while three states experienced increases. The national jobless rate, at 8.2%, was unchanged from May but 0.9 percentage points lower than in June 2011.