The Louisiana Workforce Commission says total private employment has seen an increase in jobs over the year for 21 consecutive months. Also, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment is at its highest level since 2015, and Workforce Commission Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says the state added 4,100 jobs from October to November.
“When we look at the GDP figures, and personal income figures, we are looking at record highs, and we have actually been building on record highs over the past year,” says Bustamante.
The state’s unemployment rate in November was 4.7 percent a slight decline from the previous November.
New Orleans and Baton Rouge led the state in job gains at 13,100 and 4,600 respectively, but Bustamante says Hammond was a surprise third-place finisher with 1,200 jobs.
“When we think about things like management, accounting, engineering, and consulting services, a lot of that is driving growth in the Hammond area,” says Bustamante.
Shreveport, Lake Charles, Monroe, and Houma combined to lose 2,500 jobs, but Shreveport saw a substantial 1,000 job gain between October and November. Bustamante it’s because of a bounceback in manufacturing in the area.
