Unemployment is down in Louisiana and Texas, while the unemployment rate in Arkansas rose in October 2013.

Among the Ark-La-Tex states, Texas currently has the lowest unemployment rate at 6.2%, down 0.1% from September.  Louisiana's unemployment rate is now 6.3%, down 0.3% from September.  Unemployment in Arkansas is 7.5%, up 0.1% from September.

Here are how the figures break down for each state:

Louisiana

Louisiana's labor force shrunk by 5,900 residents from September (2,091,200) to October (2,085,300), while 8,600 non-farm jobs were created (1,957,900 to 1,966,500) in the Pelican State.  Year-over-year, Louisiana has created 30,800 new jobs since October 2012 (1,935,700 to 1,966,500) and added 2,400 people to the labor force (2,082,900 to 2,085,300).

Texas

The Lone Star State's labor force shrunk by 5,300 residents from September (12,793,100) to October (12,787,800), while 7,400 jobs were created (11,225,300 to 11,232,700).  Year-over-year, 267,400 jobs have been created since October 2012 (10,965,300 to 11,232,700), while 168,200 residents were added to the labor force in the same period (12,619,600 to 12,787,800).

Arkansas

Arkansas' labor force shrunk by 700 residents from September (1,322,200) to October (1,321,500), but 5,000 jobs were created in October 2013 (from 1,185,700 to 1,190,700).  Year-over-year, 10,000 jobs were created (1,180,700 to 1,190,700), but 27,000 residents left the labor force (1,348,700 to 1,321,500).

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