The unemployment rate in Louisiana rose to 6.2% in October, up 0.2 percentage points from September but down from 7% last October, according to new seasonally adjusted figures released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Louisiana’s civilian labor force lost 11,817 workers overall between September and October, the Louisiana Workforce Commission reports. Job losses were driven by the impact of low oil prices and a continued decline in government employment.
The data shows the state has lost nearly 17% of its oil and gas jobs over the past year and that the mining and logging sector, which includes oil and gas, declined by 700 jobs over the month and 8,900 jobs since October 2014.
“If low oil prices continue, then we can expect to see greater impact on the state’s workforce, especially in areas dependent on the oil industry,” says LWC Executive Director Curt Eysink in a prepared statement.
The Baton Rouge and Lake Charles areas continued their streaks of job growth. Baton Rouge has added 7,100 jobs since October last year, a growth of nearly 2%.
Unemployment rates fell in 32 U.S. states last month as employers nationwide added the most jobs of any month this year, The Associated Press reports. Louisiana was among just three states to see its unemployment rate rise last month, while the rate in 15 other states was unchanged. The unemployment rate has tumbled below 4.5% in 21 states. North Dakota’s unemployment rate of 2.8% was the lowest in the nation last month, while West Virginia recorded the highest rate, 6.9%.
LWC has more details on the jobs figures for Louisiana released today.
