Iberville's jobless rate tops nation's

Iberville Parish's unemployment rate shot up by nearly two percentage points between May and June and back into double digits, according to the latest report form the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Iberville's rate in June was estimated at 11.3 percent, a rate three points higher than the 8.3 percent rate posted statewide and in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The local rate was 1.7 percent higher than the national rate of 9.6 percent.

The Workforce Commission said the figures reflect a seasonal increase in unemployment rates brought on by the entry of students into the labor force and seasonal layoffs at post-secondary educational facilities.

Figures from the commission indicated Iberville's labor pool grew from May to June. Last month, of 13,073 workers, 11,600 were employed and 1,473 were jobless. By comparison, in May, of 12,796 workers, 11,566 were employed and 1,230 were without jobs, a 9.6 percent rate. In June 2009, there were 12,849 workers, including 11,459 employed and 1,390 unemployed, a 10.8 percent rate.

Iberville is one of 21 Louisiana's 64 parishes to have a double-digit unemployment rate.

West Carroll Parish once again posted the state's highest rate, at 17 percent. Again, Lafourche Parish had the lowest rate at 5.8 percent.