NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana's labor market was flat in September, with unemployment and payrolls holding level.
The jobless rate stayed at 6 percent from August to September, remaining below September 2014's 6.9 percent rate.
The number of people reporting having a job fell for the fourth straight month. Unemployment stayed level because 15,000 people left the labor force, continuing a trend that began in June.
Louisiana's unemployment rate remained above the national average of 5.1 percent.
A separate survey shows Louisiana payrolls fell 500 from August to September, but remained slightly above last September's level.
Both sets of figures — adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes — were released Tuesday by the U.S. Labor Department.
The number of unemployed Louisianans fell to 129,000, down slightly from August and 21,000 lower than last year.
