The state unemployment rate fell 1.1 percent from October to 8.3 percent in November as we continue slowly regaining jobs lost earlier in the pandemic.
Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie said every single market except Hammond gained jobs month-to-month.
“We are up 175,000 jobs from our April numbers, which were the first numbers that showed the effects of the pandemic,” said Dejoie.
Month-to-month the state is up 18,500 jobs from October.
The unemployment rate is still just over three percent higher than it was a year ago, but Dejoie said we’re clawing back many of those lost jobs.
“What is encouraging is that nearly every single industry sector gained jobs over the month, most significant in leisure and hospitality, education and health services,” said Dejoie.
New Orleans gained back a robust ten thousand jobs from October to November but still sits at 47,700 jobs lost year-to-year. Dejoie said the tourism-driven city’s woes are historic.
“The numbers go back to 1976 and we would really have to look at the Lafayette numbers in the period in late 87-88 to see a similar kind of impact or anything close. Of course, that was with the oil bust” said Dejoie.
Baton Rouge follows in 2nd for total year to year losses at 16,000, with hurricane-ravaged Lake Charles at 14,400, Lafayette at 9,000, and Shreveport at 7,400.
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