Louisiana dropped 9,900 non-farm jobs last month, due mostly to the seasonal layoffs of educaton employees and the end of temporary Census jobs, but the state still is more than 20,000 jobs ahead of a year ago, state officials said Tuesday.
Goods-producing employment rose by 1,600 jobs over the month - completely due to a jump in construction workers - while the service-providing sector dropped 11,500 jobs, both on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the Louisiana Workforce Commission said.
The report was issued amid concerns that the national economy is slowing down and perhaps headed into a double-dip recession.
The mining sector, which has been closely watched because of the deepwater drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico, lost 500 jobs last month and was down 600 from July 2009. Manufacturing lost 100 jobs in July, while construction surged by 2,200.
Over the past year, the goods-producing sector is down by 9,300 jobs, while the service-providing sector is up by 29,500.
Of the state's eight metropolitan labor markets, six showed year-to-year increases. Alexandria and Houma-Thibodaux both had decreases.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Louisiana's unemployment rate increased in July to 7.2 percent from 7 percent in June. The civilian labor force - the total of people actively seeking work and those who have jobs - increased by 19,433 over the month and 28,755 over the year.
The national unemployment rate for both June and July was 9.5 percent.
Among the state's metropolitan areas:
- New Orleans lost 2,300 jobs last month, but was still up 6,600 from July 2009. Goods-producing employment was down 2,500 from last year, while the service-providing sector gained 9,100 over the past 12 months.
- Baton Rouge lost 3,200 jobs last month, leaving a year-to-year gain of 400. Goods-producing employment was off by 2,100 over the year, while service-providing jobs rose by 2,500.
- Lafayette lost 600 jobs last month, but was up 1,200 over the year. Goods-producing employment has fallen by 500 over the year, while service-providing employment is up by 1,700.
- Lake Charles' non-farm employment was unchanged from June, and up by 1,400 over the year. The goods-producing sector has lost 1,000 jobs in 12 months, while the service-providing sector has added 2,400.
- Shreveport-Bossier City lost 900 jobs in July, leaving a 300-job gain from July 2009. Over the year, goods-producing employment is down by 700, while service-providing jobs are up by 1,000.
- Monroe lost 500 jobs last month, leaving a year-to-year gain of 400. The goods-producing sector has added 100 jobs over the past 12 months, while the service-providing sector has gained 300.
- Houma-Thibodaux lost 800 jobs in July and posted a year-to-year loss of 1,100. Goods-producing jobs are down by 800, while service providing jobs are down by 300 over the past 12 months.
- Alexandria lost 300 jobs in July, accelerating its year-to-year loss to 900. The goods-producing sector is down by 800 from July 2009, while the service-providing sector is down by 100 jobs.
