Oil and gas jobs in Louisiana have dropped to the lowest level in almost 10 years, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Eric Smith, Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, says these jobs are some of the best in the state.
"It's a disproportionate effect," says Smith. "When you lose a job offshore, it's like losing two or three jobs onshore in manufacturing."
Mining and logging jobs, where many oil and gas jobs are classified, fell by another 300 jobs last month, bringing the total number of jobs lost this year to 6,000.
Smith says the price of crude oil is the leading factor in the decrease in jobs.
"When oil prices are low, we lose more jobs than the rest of the country proportionately and when oil prices are high, we gain more jobs than the rest of the country," says Smith.
The total number of mining and logging jobs has dropped to 47,700, the lowest in the state since May 2006.
Visit laworks.net for information about the Louisiana Workforce Commission or contact them at 225-342-3111.