Employment figures rebound locally

Kathrine Schmidt

Published: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 10:39 a.m.

THIBODAUX - Unemployment in Terrebonne and Lafourche dropped to 4 percent in October after hitting almost 6 percent in September, new state data show.

"That can basically be attributed to people going back to work after the hurricane," said Patti Granier, a statistician with the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

The numbers, released Tuesday, are not adjusted for seasonal variations.

The Houma-Thibodaux metro area, which includes all of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, has the second-lowest unemployment in the state. Lafayette has the lowest jobless rate at 3.7 percent.

The average is 5.3 percent statewide and 6.1 percent nationally for October.

Houma-Thibodaux's unemployment is still higher than last year; it was 2.3 percent in October 2007 in both parishes. This October, it was 3.8 percent in Lafourche and 4.1 percent in Terrebonne.

Jobs were also generated statewide and locally. Louisiana added 5,000 non-seasonal jobs over October, with a growth of 9,700 since last October. Houma-Thibodaux added 700 over the month but is down 900 over the year.

In Houma, oil production gained 200 over the month; building construction gained 100.

It's difficult to know how much of these additions came on the rebound from hurricanes Gustav and Ike and how much represents new economic growth, Granier said.

In surrounding parishes, St. Mary posted a 5.2 percent jobless rate last month, Assumption 6.3 percent and St. James 8.2 percent.

Officials said the figures are encouraging, especially considering that unemployment rates are up in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

"It appears that the hurricanes did have a significant effect on our employment in September and that we've rebounded considerably from that," Tim Barfield, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said in a news release. "The growth in the Louisiana workforce, both the number of people working and the number looking for work, indicates our economy is still growing and outperforming the nation."

Staff Writer Kathrine Schmidt can be reached at 857-2204.