Forster commented, “As I stated when the claims numbers were released, that data says to us that for anyone in Louisiana wanting to work, there is a job.”In St. John the Baptist Parish the jobless rate fell from 8.7 to 7.7 percentbetween August and September, still higher than the September 1999 mark of 6.4 percent.In St. Charles Parish unemployment improved from 6.1 to 6.0 percent, but itis still above the 4.6 percent mark for September 1999.In St. James Parish unemployment dropped from 10.5 to 9.6 percent, yetstill above the September 1999 mark of 9.4 percent. However, it remainsthe highest in the New Orleans Metro area.

In the New Orleans Metro area, including Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes, the lowest jobless rate duringSeptember 2000 was 3.5 percent in St. Tammany, closely followed byPlaquemines Parish’s 3.8 percent.The lowest jobless rate in Louisiana for September 2000 was marked in Lincoln Parish, which enjoyed a 2.7 percent mark. Bienville Parish had thehighest unemployment rate, with 13.8 percent. The statewide seasonally-adjusted rate for September 2000 was 5.0percent, Forster said, up from the previous month’s 4.8 percent, but stillabove the 4.9 percent rate from one year ago.

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