Governor Edwards Adds New Economic Restrictions, Pelican Statement

By Daniel J. Erspamer
11/24/2020
Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Louisiana is returning to Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 economic restrictions. In addition to ordering many bars across the state to close and sending most businesses back to 50 percent occupancy through the end of the year, Gov. Edwards also limited gatherings to 75 indoors and 150 outdoors. Additionally,...

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs and opportunity, Labor, Unemployment

New Report Reveals Extent of Damage from COVID-19 and Shutdowns

07/31/2020
Current methods for collecting economic data causes a disconnect between what people are actually feeling in their lives and the numbers being released to the public. That’s why prior to this week, we knew that COVID-19 and subsequent shutdowns have made large impacts on the American economy, but we didn’t know the full scope of...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, COVID-19, GDP, Great Depression, Gross Domestic Product, Labor, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Louisiana Economy Suffers One of Worst Declines in the Nation

07/08/2020
Due to the damage caused by COVID-19 and government shutdowns, it’s been clear that no state was going to experience any economic growth through the first half of the year. Instead, the major question has revolved around which states’ economies would be hit the hardest. Well the first quarter results are in, and the numbers...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, COVID-19, GDP, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, Labor

Nearly a Quarter of Louisiana’s Labor Force has Filed for Unemployment

04/30/2020
While Gov. John Bel Edwards unexpectedly postponed the phased reopening of Louisiana’s economy to May 15, the most recently released economic data shows precisely why we need to Get Louisiana Working as soon as possible. Another 66,000 Louisianans filed unemployment claims for the week ending April 25 . While this was less than the week...

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

Louisiana’s 2019 GDP Ranked Among The Worst in Nation

04/07/2020
As economic news continues to focus on the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA) recently released report further underscored Louisiana’s pre-coronavirus economic struggles. In the final quarter of 2019, the BEA report on state Gross Domestic Products (GDP) showed the Louisiana economy grew an anemic 1.1 percent, ranking 43rd in...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Jobs, jobs and opportunity, Labor, legal reform, occupational licensing, tax reform

First Post-COVID-19 National Jobs Report Gives Evidence on What’s Happening in Louisiana

04/03/2020
With a record 6.6 million Americans applying for unemployment over the last month, doubling the previous record from two weeks ago, economists were dreading the latest national report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national report is now out and found that total nonfarm employment decreased by an astounding 701,000 nonfarm workers, the largest...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Economy, Jobs, Labor