Louisiana job rate, claims do not balance

Louisiana’s unemployment rates and first-time jobless claims send a mixed message as state offices release mid-summer numbers.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reported Friday that the state’s unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent in June from a revised May level of 8.2 percent. At the same time, LWC said that unemployed insurance claims increased by 8 percent with 4,398 filings made the week ending July 16.

A four-week moving average for initial unemployment claims increased nearly 3 percent, but was still down by 17 percent from those claims completed during the same week in 2010.

Continued Louisiana unemployment insurance claims were highest in the construction industry with 720 filings. Unemployment filings do not reflect those persons that have not applied for or stopped seeking assistance. The numbers do not include self-employed individuals that are out of work.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private industry in Louisiana added 27,800 jobs to the state’s non-farm workforce during the past year. Louisiana was one of eight states to decrease their unemployment rate in June.

Louisiana unemployment levels were reported at 7.8 percent for June, while the southern region posted an 8.9 percent unemployment rate and the national level was at 9.2 percent.

“Even with new methodology, employer survey findings consistently show that the private sector is adding non-farm jobs,” LWC Executive Director Curt Eysink said. “With the number of estimated unemployed also at the lowest level so far this year, indicators show that we are moving in the right direction.”