Unemployment rate inches higher in St. Tammany

With jobs slashed nationwide and recession in full bloom, Louisiana emerged late last year with a golden nugget: It was the only state in the nation to see nonfarm jobs increase from November to December despite unemployment rates in all eight southern metropolitan areas decreasing, according to a data recently released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Meanwhile St. Tammany Parish boasted a 4.1 percent unemployment rate, one of the lowest in the state and far short of the national rate of 7.1, according to the data. And while the rate inched higher from 3.8 percent in November, that’s likely because seasonal jobs such as Christmas tree sales and retail sales ended, said Patty Granier, labor market specialist manager with LWC said.

It’s an economic feather in the cap for Louisiana and a reminder St. Tammany’s labor market is one of the best in the state, Granier said.

St. Tammany trailed only Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes that each boasted a 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent unemployment rate respectively, the lowest in the state, according to the data.

“St. Tammany has always done well,” Granier said. “It’s a region that if a job is interrupted its relative easy to find another one.”

She attributed St. Tammany’s outlook to a fairly large workforce population that takes advantage of thousands of jobs offered by the school system, retail, professional and entertainment sectors.

“The increase in jobs and the growth in our work force are positive signs and continue to indicate that we have job opportunities for the people of Louisiana despite the worsening recession nationally,” said Tim Barfield, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. “Still, the condition of the national economy is a reason for great concern in our state, and we are watching our unemployment rate and all industry sectors closely for effects of the recession.”

At 5.4 percent, the greater New Orleans area boasted the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the state in December, up from 4.9 percent in November and 3.3 percent a year ago.

The greater New Orleans area consists of the Jefferson, New Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany parishes. Jefferson’s unemployment rate in December registered 4.8 percent, up from 4.4 percent, while New Orleans rang in at 7.9 percent, up from 7.1 percent, according to the data.

Meanwhile, Lafayette, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes boasted the state’s lowest rate at 3.6 percent, 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent respectively.

In contrast, the highest rates in the state were found in East Carroll and West Carroll parishes, each boasting a December unemployment rate at 13.4 percent, up from about 10 percent in November and up from 9.4 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively, the same time last in the year-ago period.