KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana |Rita Still Wreaking Havoc On Unemployment Numbers

Rita Still Wreaking Havoc On Unemployment Numbers

December 22, 2005
Reported by Vince Atkinson

Hurricane Rita did far more than topple trees and destroy homes. The storm also caused a huge spike in Louisiana's unemployment rate. For the first time in years, Southwest Louisiana has been seeing double digit unemployment numbers. The State Department of Labor has been working hard to fill jobs and send everyone back to work.

Ever since Hurricane Rita swept ashore, "help wanted" signs can be seen all over Southwest Louisiana. Kathy Farrar with the Louisiana Department of Labor knows about the high unemployment rate first hand. Farrar says, "The new figures came out today, and we did not drop as low as I hoped we would for the November rate." The latest unemployment numbers for the month of November only dropped by a fraction of a point. The current unemployment rate is 15.9 % for Calcasieu and Cameron Parish.

Farrar says, "Now we have got a high unemployment plus a lot of job openings. We are working around the clock to match these people up with the different jobs." With so many jobs out there, why are so many people still out of work? Farrar says, "A lot of it is that the skills that the applicants that we are having don't really mesh with the job openings that we are getting."

Now, people receiving unemployment benefits because of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina must prove they are trying to find a job. Farrar says, "By law, they must be able, available, and actively seeking work." Anyone who can not provide evidence that they are looking for a job runs the risk of having their unemployment benefits halted.

If you are currently looking for work, you can call the Louisiana Works - Department of Labor. That number is (337) 475-4900. You can also log onto the Louisiana Works website at www.laworks.net. The State Department of Labor is currently trying to fill nearly 1,800 local job openings.