Jobless rate remains among La.’s lowest

The Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux unemployment rate is slightly higher than this time last year, but at 4.4 percent through mid-October, it remains the lowest in Louisiana, according to the latest figures supplied by the state’s Workforce Commission.

Fewer initial unemployment claims were filed over the Thanksgiving and Acadian holidays, resulting in a jump the week ending Dec. 7. Initial unemployment claims increased to 3,159, up from the previous week’s total of 1,850. Continued claims went from 22,425 to 24,160.

Industries with the largest over-the-week hikes in continued claim, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, were administrative, construction, professional, scientific, technical and waste services.

The total number of people who received unemployment in November fell to 19,678 – a 708 drop from October, which saw 20,386 checks sent.

Houma and Thibodaux account for the state’s lowest jobless rate, followed closely by Lafayette, according to state figures. Monroe is the state’s worst city with the highest unemployment figure at 7 percent.

Fargo, N.D., sports the nation’s lowest jobless rate – 3.1 percent – while Yuma, Az., has the highest at 30.8 percent.

The biggest job losses have been experienced nationally in construction, which saw 568 people file claims the first week of December.