Louisiana Gained Jobs in December

Louisiana gained 3,000 non-farm jobs in December and wound up with an overall gain over the year, the state Workforce Commission reported today.

From December 2007, the official start of the current recession, to December 2008, Louisiana saw a net gain of 8,500 jobs on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

State labor officials said Louisiana was the only state to show a gain in non-farm employment last month.

Over the past year, goods-producing jobs, including the petroleum, construction and manufacturing sectors, showed a net loss of 500 positions. Construction grew by 5,100, petroleum gained 100, but manufacturing shed 5,700.

The service-providing sector gained 9,000 jobs, led by a 4,400-job jump in educational and health services.

December’s unemployment rate was 5.9%, up from 5.3 percent in November.