Louisiana Unemployment 6.5 Percent In April

There were more unemployed people in April than in March here in Louisiana, pushing the unemployment rate up to 6.5%.  March's unemployment rate was 6.2%.  

While year-to-year figures are good, with the April 2012 unemployment rate at 6.8%, this is the fourth straight month of higher unemployment in the Pelican State.  There were 5,000 fewer residents who reported having work, according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Our neighbors had decently better months.  Unemployment in Arkansas dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.1% in April.  The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services says there was an increase of 1,700 employed people, the first increase since April 2012.

Texas stayed consistent with the unemployment rate hovering at 6.4%, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.