BY JOHN H. WALKER
L’Observateur

Unemployment in the River Parishes dropped one-tenth of a percentage point in both St. John and St. Charles parishes in April but jumped half-a-percent in St. James. April’s job statistics were released Wednesday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

In St. John, there were 21,616 persons employed and 1,501 unemployed for a rate of 6.5 percent. April’s numbers reflect an increase of 12 people employed and a decrease of 27 unemployed when compared to March (6.6 percent), but is considerably higher than a year ago when there were 22,237 employed and 831 unemployed for a rate of 3.6 percent.

In St. Charles, there were 25,554 persons employed and 1,259 unemployed for a rate of 4.7 percent. April’s numbers reflect an increase of 14 people employed and a decrease of 31 unemployed when compared to March (4.8 percent). Like St. John Parish, this year’s St. Charles numbers are considerably higher than a year ago when there were 26,289 employed and 741 unemployed for a rate of 2.7 percent.

There was no decline in St. James Parish despite an increase of 97 persons working, which was partially offset by an increase of 57 persons on the unemployment rolls. In April there were 8,420 employed and 802 unemployed for a rate of 8.7 percent. That compares to 8,323 working and 745 out-of-work in March, which correlated to a rate of 8.2 percent. In April 2008, there were 8,465 working and 429 out-of-work for a rate of 4.8 percent.

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April was 6.2 percent, up from 5.8 percent in March and from 4.1 percent a year ago. The April rate ranked Louisiana with the ninth-lowest rate in the nation.

Lafourche Parish had the lowest rate in the state at 3.5 percent while West Carroll Parish had the highest at 16.1 percent. West Carroll was one of three parishes — Morehouse (11.9 percent) and East Carroll (11.4 percent) — with double-digit unemployment.