While three-quarters of U.S. states posted modest job gains in October and saw unemployment rates decrease from September, Baton Rouge and Louisiana at large each saw a slight rise in its unemployment rates on the month. The nine-parish Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area lost approximately 1,100 jobs in October compared to the same month a year ago, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Though it was an increase of 600 jobs from September, the Baton Rouge unemployment rate nonetheless crept up 0.1% to 7.1% in October—which is still down from the 7.6% unemployment rate in October a year ago. Louisiana’s unemployment rate also rose to 7.1% in October, up from 6.9% in September, but down from 7.5% in October 2010. Unemployment rates fell in 36 states in October and rose in only five—including Louisiana—according to the Labor Department. Rates were unchanged in nine states. That’s the best showing since April, when rates fell in 39 states.
Nationally, the unemployment rate ticked down to 9% in October, from 9.1% the previous month. U.S. employers added a modest 80,000 net jobs last month, and the previous two months were revised to show much stronger gains. Still, at least 125,000 jobs a month are needed to keep up with population growth, and at least double that amount to rapidly reduce the unemployment rate. Nevada had the nation’s highest unemployment rate for the 17th straight month. It was unchanged at 13.4%. North Dakota reported the nation’s lowest unemployment rate, at 3.5%. Read the full story on national unemployment figures from The Associated Press here. A detailed breakdown of Louisiana’s October employment figures is available in a PDF file from the LWC here.
