Total area employment grew just 0.4%
UNO reports that the New Orleans area registered "modest growth" over the first three quarters of 2012 with area employment increasing 0.4%.
The university's Division of Business and Economic Research says just 2,000 jobs were created as substantial losses in some industries including construction, retail trade and manufacturing of transportation equipment were offset by employment gains in other industries including leisure and hospitality, educational services and business and professional services.
4,000 jobs were lost in the construction industry while the largest gain of 3,500 jobs was reported in the leisure and hospitality sector.
UNO reports that the area unemployment rate increased to 7.4% during the first three quarters of 2012 from 6.7% at the end of 2011.
