BR sheds 2,500 jobs in past 12 months (8.2% Unemployment Rate)
by CHAD CALDER - Advocate (excerpt)

Baton Rouge lost 2,500 jobs during the 12 months ending in March, taking hits in the construction; manufacturing; trade, transportation and utilities; financial activities; and government sectors. The decline, reported Tuesday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, represented just 0.7 percent of the metro area’s 362,200 workers, but it was significantly higher than anything the local economy has seen since last summer.

The preliminary numbers showed the construction sector lost 1,200 jobs, to finish at 37,200; manufacturing, lost 100 to finish at 24,600; trade transportation and utilities, lost 700 jobs to finish at 63,800; financial activities, lost 700 jobs to finish at 16,700; and government, lost 400 jobs to finish at 77,700.

Baton Rouge’s unemployment rate, non-seasonally adjusted, was 8.2 percent, compared to 6.6 percent a year ago.