NEW ORLEANS &045;&045; Louisiana had 6,400 fewer non-farm jobs in December 2003 than in December 2002, a figure that would have been much larger except for a gain of nearly 10,000 construction jobs, the state labor department reported Wednesday.

The preliminary unemployment rate for Concordia Parish in December was 12.5 percent, almost two percent higher than November at 10.4 percent unemployment. However, the rate is lower than December 2002, which had a rate of 12.9 percent.

Sally Frazier, workforce development officer with the state labor department job service in Ferriday, said the rate is seasonal and is always higher in December and January. With the rain, weather and the end of the agriculture season, the unemployment rate will be up until probably March, Frazier said.

But Concordia Parish does have one boost coming its way, a new company. TXEL committed to move the Vidalia Industrial Park Tuesday and is expected to bring about 55 to 60 jobs at first and about 130 in the next three years.

&uot;Any jobs provided by any source will show an improvement in the unemployment rate,&uot; Frazier said.

The state unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in December, compared with 5.5 percent in November and 6.3 percent in December 2002.

The goods-producing sector saw an increase of 5,000 jobs &045;&045; purely through the addition of 9,800 construction positions, especially in sectors that involve road building. Petroleum dropped 1,400 jobs during the year, while manufacturing fell by 3,400 jobs.

The service-producing sector dropped 11,400 jobs. Professional and business service jobs dropped by 4,500, while transportation-warehousing lost 3,100 jobs. State and local government jobs rose by 2,700.

In December, there were 19,425 initial claims for unemployment compensation, compared with 16,713 in November and 16,965 in December 2002. Benefits for 6,335 ran out in December, compared with 4,667 in November and 4,087 in December 2002.

Among the state’s metropolitan areas:

Baton Rouge had 1,600 more non-farm jobs in the December-to-December comparison, including 500 in the goods-producing sector and 1,100 in the service-providing sector.

New Orleans recorded 2,900 more non-farm jobs. There were 3,100 more goods-producing jobs, including 2,000 in construction and 1,200 in manufacturing. The petroleum sector fell by 100. The number of service-providing jobs fell by 200.

Shreveport-Bossier City recorded 700 more non-farm jobs, the product of a 600-job gain in producing goods and 100 in providing services.

Alexandria had 100 fewer non-farm jobs than a year ago. Goods-producing jobs were unchanged, while service-providing jobs accounted for the loss.

Houma-Thibodaux was up by 700 non-farm jobs, including 500 in the goods-producing sector and 200 in the service-providing sector.

Lafayette saw a decline of 1,100 non-farm jobs, including 1,000 in the goods-producing sector and 100 in the service-providing sector.

Lake Charles saw a decline of 200 non-farm jobs, all in the goods-producing sector.

Monroe fel by 900 non-farm jobs. Goods-producing positions rose by 600, but service-producing jobs fell by 1,500.