Louisiana drops jobs during storm riddled month

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Louisiana's non-farm job employment dropped by 4,500 jobs in September, a month during which two hurricanes disrupted business in wide sections of the state and made it difficult to gauge how the national economic downturn factored in.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, there were still 5,700 more jobs last month than in September 2007, the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported Friday

The labor agency's executive director, Tim Barfield, said hurricanes Gustav and Ike make it difficult to pinpoint exactly what the latest figures mean about the state's economy.

At least partially because of the storms, there were over 67,667 new and renewed claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana last month. There were about 19,113 such claims in August - and 8,811 in September 2007.

Goods-producing employment - including the petroleum, construction and manufacturing sectors - registered a 1,300-job fall from August to September. But in the September-to-September comparison, those jobs fell by only 200. Over the year, petroleum jobs were unchanged, construction grew by 500 and manufacturing decreased by 600.

The service-providing sector dropped 3,200 jobs last month, but still registered an increase of 5,900 from the previous September with educational-health services and leisure-hospitality leading the way.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, Louisiana's unemployment rate for September was 5.2 percent, an increase from August's 4.7 percent. The U.S. jobless rate for both months was 6.1 percent. However, the civilian labor force - a key factor in computing the unemployment rate - dropped by 10,841 in September.

Among the state's metropolitan areas:

_ The New Orleans region lost 2,600 non-farm jobs last month, but showed an increase of 8,400 from the previous year. Over the past 12 months, the region has added 1,500 goods-producing jobs and 6,900 service-providing jobs.

_ Baton Rouge added 1,300 jobs in September, but was still down 300 over the yearly comparison. Over the year, goods-producing jobs increased by 400, while the service sector dropped 700.

_ The Houma-Thibodaux region, which took the brunt of the hit from Gustav, lost 2,800 jobs in September and was down 1,100 from September 2007. Over the year, goods-producing jobs fell by 800, while service-providing jobs fell by 300.

_ Lafayette saw a decrease of 400 jobs in September, but registered an increase of 1,700 from the previous September. Over the year, goods-producing employment increased by 1,700, while the service sector added 700.

_ Lake Charles took a hit of 600 jobs last month. Over the year, the area came out with 100 fewer non-farm jobs, the product of a slight gain in the service sector and a loss in the goods-producing categories.

_ Shreveport-Bossier City lost 600 jobs last month, but showed a yearly gain of 1,900. Over the past 12 months, 100 jobs were lost from the goods-producing sector, while 2,000 were added to the service sector.

_ Alexandria dropped 100 non-farm jobs last month and ended the past 12 months with a loss of 600. Over the year, the goods-producing sector added 100 jobs and the service-providing sector lost 700.

_ Monroe's employment was unchanged from August to September, but down 1,100 jobs from September 2007. Over the year, goods-producing jobs fell by 500, while service employment fell by 600 jobs.

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Louisiana drops jobs during storm riddled month