Louisiana’s unemployment rate currently sits just under four percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s the lowest the rate has been since 2008 – which could be great news for Governor John Bel Edwards.
The unemployment rate when he took office in January 2016 was 6.3 percent, so it’s no wonder his re-election team is holding this up as an example of what the Gov. is capable of. With the race against his Republican opponents U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone heating up, the low unemployment rate could make a good counter to their strategy of portraying him as a “tax and spend” governor.
“We don’t have a revenue problem in Louisiana, we have a leadership problem,” Abraham said.
But Gov. Edwards argues that his Republican opponents aim to return the state to policies similar to the agenda followed by former Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.
“Gov. Edwards’ opponents want to take us back to Bobby Jindal’s failed economy and disastrous $2 billion budget deficit,” said Eric Holl, spokesman for Edwards’ re-election campaign.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana also had its 13th straight month of job growth, adding 3,300 jobs from February to March.
Jenn Bentley covers breaking news and politics for Big Easy Magazine in addition to editing. You can email her at jbentley@bigeasymagazine.com, follow her Facebook page, and find her on Twitter @JennBentley_.
