Reading Between the Lines on Latest Jobs Report

02/01/2021

by Eric Peterson, director of the Pelican Center for Technology and Innovation Policy At first glance, the December State Employment and Unemployment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics appeared positive for Louisiana. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals there is still a long way to go in the state’s economic recovery. The...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Department of Labor, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, occupational licensing, regulatory reform, tax reform

Unemployment spikes again in Louisiana

11/23/2020

Despite mostly good news on both the Louisiana health and economic fronts over the last few months, November has brought spikes in both unemployment and COVID-19 cases. While unemployment claims had been trending downwards for some time, even getting below 10,000 for a few weeks, the week ending November 14 saw claims jump to over...

TAGS: COVID-19, Department of Labor, jobs and opportunity, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Could Expanding Unemployment Insurance Hurt Louisiana’s Recovery?

By Daniel J. Erspamer

08/24/2020

Last week saw the release of some of best economic news for the state of Louisiana in a long time. According to the Department of Labor’s data for the week ending August 8, the number of Louisianans on unemployment insurance decreased by more than 53,000. This comes on the heels of a 27,000-person decrease during...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Department of Labor, Economic Analysis, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, regulatory reform, tax reform

Initial Unemployment Claims Spike Following Bar Closures

07/24/2020

After faint signs of hope of economic recovery in recent weeks, the decision to shut down bars for the second time seems to be taking a toll on Louisianans’ livelihoods. Governor John Bel Edwards issued the order to close all bars in the state on July 13. The Department of Labor released its latest unemployment data Thursday, and the...

TAGS: COVID-19, Department of Labor, Get Louisiana Working, initial unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Some Good News in Latest Jobs Numbers, But Will They Hold?

07/17/2020

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest state-by-state jobs numbers, which featured some overall good news for Louisiana. The state’s June unemployment rate dropped by 4.5 percent, dipping under 10 percent for the first time in months. While this headline shows some improvement in Louisiana’s economic situation, there are reasons to take...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, Economy, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

July Sees Major Spike in Louisiana Unemployment Claims

07/09/2020

Following the revelation that Louisiana suffered one of the worst Q1 economic declines in the nation, today’s weekly unemployment claims announcement contains even more bad news for Louisianans. Despite remaining steady over the past six weeks, the Department of Labor reports the week of July 4 saw a 45 percent increase in the number of...

TAGS: Budget, Department of Labor, Get Louisiana Working, legal reform, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Louisiana Economy Appears Stuck in Neutral

06/19/2020

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that America gained 2.5 million jobs in the month of May, leaving many in Louisiana wondering how that would translate to the state’s economy. This morning’s BLS report showed Louisiana gaining almost 33,000 jobs in May, leading to a decline in the unemployment rate of 1.8 percent. The state’s...

TAGS: Department of Labor, jobs and opportunity, legal reform, tax reform, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Will Independent Contractors Be Reclassified Out of Existence?

By James Plummer

10/17/2012

The proposed Labor Department budget for fiscal year 2013 includes money for 35 new investigators to dig through business records and go after employers and employees who contract independently.

TAGS: Department of Labor, independent contractors, IRS, Obama Administration, unions

Equal Pay for Women Act Brings Battle of the Sexes to Life in Louisiana

By Robert Ross

04/28/2011

Rep. Norton has reintroduced the Equal Pay for Women Act, which would give the state power to correct and eliminate discriminatory wage practices based on sex for "comparable" work. However, various academics claim that the the male-female wage gap has little to do with discrimination, and more so with job preferences.

TAGS: Barbara Norton, Department of Labor, Equal Pay Act, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Equal Pay for Women Act, James Chung, Mimi Schippers, Reach Advisors, Romina Boccia, U.S. Census Bureau, Walter Block

Louisana’s Business Tax Climate Ranks Unfavorably

By Robert Flanagan

01/12/2010

A report by the Tax Foundation on the State Business Tax Climate within states for FY 2010 shows Louisiana is losing ground. The state dropped two spots to 35th overall for FY 2010. The Tax foundation used 112 variables, grouped into five component indexes to measure the overall business tax climate within a state. These...

TAGS: Business Tax, Department of Labor, Tax Foundation, Taxes

Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government

In their report “Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government,” Ted Bolema, Ph.D., J.D., Antitrust and Competition Fellow at the Innovators Network Foundation, and Vance Ginn, Ph.D., Chief Economist at the Pelican Institute, write that while the current frustrations with the size of large tech companies and censorship practices may be warranted, giving...

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