NEW ORLEANS (AP) - More Louisianans report having a job than ever before, a sign the state’s economy is improving.
Employers reported 9,000 more workers in April than in March, another strong sign.
April’s survey shows 2.04 million people reporting jobs, beating the previous record of December 2014.
Still, Louisiana’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5 percent in April from 4.4 percent in March, as more people entered the labor force than found jobs.
Louisiana’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent a year ago.
The separate employer payroll survey - many economists’ top labor market indicator - rose to 1.99 million in Louisiana. That’s the third straight month of large gains.
April’s U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent from March’s 4.1 percent.
The U.S. Labor Department released figures Friday, adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes.
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