Louisiana, Texas Gain Jobs in June; Arkansas, Oklahoma Post Losses

The South Central states of Louisiana and Texas posted job gains for the month of June, but Arkansas and Oklahoma saw slight losses in employment.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reported Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment grew by 5,800 jobs from May to June, with the state recording its first over-the-year increase in jobs since December 2008.

Texas’ total nonagricultural employment grew by 14,000 jobs in June for a total of 166,100 jobs gained since the beginning of 2010. The state has gained jobs in every month of 2010, according to Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken. Goods producing industries added jobs in the month of June, as did manufacturing, construction, and mining and logging, he said. The education and health services industry, and professional and business services also added jobs.

In Arkansas, the civilian labor force declined by 8,200 in June, the Department of Workforce Services reported. Most of the job losses came from the public sector. The state saw jobs added in educational and health services, and in manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities.

Oklahoma’s statewide seasonally adjusted labor force and employment both contracted over the month. During the June-to-June period, statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment grew by 1,010 persons, or plus 0.8 percent. Still, at 6.8 percent, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is well below the national average of 9.5 percent and below that of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent in June, down from 8.3 percent in May.

Arkansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point from 7.7 percent in May to 7.5 percent in June. The June rate of 7.5 percent is the state’s lowest unemployment rate since October 2009

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was 7.0 percent, up slightly from the revised May rate of 6.8 percent.

The largest monthly job gains in Louisiana occurred in education and health services. Among other sectors recording employment gains were leisure and hospitality; construction; professional and business services; and financial activities. Trade, transportation, and utilities; information; and other services also added jobs. Sectors with job declines for the month were mining, logging, manufacturing, and government.