LWC says initial unemployment claims decrease

First-time claims for unemployment benefits in Louisiana fell by 46% last week after claims from a temporary one-week layoff in the transportation equipment sector began tapering off. According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, there were 4,623 initial jobless claims for the week ending Saturday. Initial claims for the comparable week ending Nov. 15, 2008, totaled 3,333. Last week, there were 61,379 continuing claims, up from the previous week’s 60,676. A year ago, there were 29,238 continuing unemployment claims.