State jobless claims down

The state’s jobless rate continues to decline. First-time unemployment claims for the week ending Feb. 9 decreased to 2,829 from the previous week’s total of 3,126, or about 9.5%. That’s also about 10% fewer first-time jobless claims than the comparable week one year ago. Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of initial jobless claims decreased to 3,177 from the previous week’s average of 3,591; and continued unemployment claims fell to 29,781, which is 25% fewer than in the same period one year ago. “We are one of only two states in the South that have more people employed than in 2008,” says economist Loren Scott, who attributes the positive trend to the low price of natural gas. “It’s fueling an industrial expansion unlike anything I have ever seen here before, and it’s one I expect to continue.” —Stephanie Riegel