La. Employment Outlook

A new employment outlook survey shows Louisiana leading the nation in expected new jobs for the first quarter of this year. Louisiana appears to be poised to lead the nation in jobs growth for the first quarter of 2011. Louisiana Workforce Commission Deputy Executive Director Jay Augustine says hiring is expected in a wide range of industries, putting the state at the top for new jobs for Q1. Augustine says Manpower International's annual Employment Outlook survey canvassed businesses across the state--asking them if they planned to expand their workforces, shrink them or keep them the same. Augustine says new jobs are anticipated in health care, manufacturing, utilities, and more...with the leisure and hospitality industry leading in employment growth. He says the state unemployment rate is at 7.9%--far less than the national average of nearly 10%.